Greater Burnet

There are about 18 species of rhizomatous perennials in this genus, which occurs throughout northern temperate regions. Sanguisorba officinalis is grown as a border plant for its elegant foliage and small bottlebrush flowers. It contains unique tannins, glycosides (sanguisorbins), and gum. Use of the roots was first recorded in Chinese medicine in the Shen Nong Canon of Herbs during the Han dynasty (206BCE-CE23). Western medicine favors the leafy parts. Culpeper described its astringent qualities graphically: "to stauch bleeding inward or outward, lasks, scourings, the bloody flux, women's too abundant flux of courses, the whites, and the choleric belchings and castings of the stomach, and is a wound-herb for all sorts of wounds, both of the head and body either inward or outward, for all old sores, running cankers, and moist sores". Sanguisorba comes from the Latin sanguis "blood", and sorbere, "to soak up", and refers to the use of these plants to control bleeding.

Erect, clump-forming perennial with a stout, woody rootstock and a basal rosette of pinnate leaves, 50cm (20in) long, divided into 3-7 pairs of oblong-elliptic, toothed leaflets. Tiny maroon flowers are produced in dense, oblong spikes, to 3cm (1¼in) long, from summer to mid-autumn.

Common Name:	Greater Burnet
Botanical Name:	Sanguisorba officinalis syn. Posterium officinalis
Genus:	Sanguisorba
Family:	Rosaceae
Native Location:	Europe to China and Japan; Naturalized in parts of N America.
Cultivation:	Moist, well-drained soil in sun or partial shade.
Propagation:	Propagate by seed sown in autumn or spring; by division in autumn or spring.
Harvest:	Leafy parts are cut before flowers open and dried for use in infusions, liquid extracts, and tinctures. Roots are lifted in autumn and dried for decoctions.
Height:	30cm-1.1m (1-3½ft)
Width:	23-60cm (9-24in)
Hardiness:	Z4-8
Parts Used:	Leaves, roots (di yu)
Properties:	A bitter, astringent, cooling herb that controls bleeding, reduces inflammation, promotes healing, and destroys many pathogenic organisms.
Medicinal Uses:	Internally for diarrhea, dysentery, ulcerative colitis, hemorrhoids, hemorrhage, and abnormal uterine bleeding. Externally for burns, scalds, sores, and skin diseases. An ingredient in Chinese formulas to treat cervical erosion and uterine and gastrointestinal hemorrhages, and in a dentrifice for peridontal disease. Roots are often stir-baked or charred to increase astringency.
Culinary Uses:	Young leaves, leaflets, and unopened flower heads are added to salads, stir-fries, and soups. Dried leaves are made into tea.
Bibliography:	The Encyclopedia of Herbs by Deni Bown Copyright © 1995,2001 Dorling Kindersley Limited pg. 358