Yellow Bugle

This genus of 50 species of annuals and perennials is found mainly in temperate parts of Eurasia, with some species in Australia and tropical Africa. Ajuga reptans (bugle) is an excellent garden plant for moisture-retentive soil in sun or shade, as ground cover, for borders, or for the wildflower garden. It was an ingredient of the "Traumatick Decoction" in the London Dispensatory of 1694, and was taken after injury. Bugle was a favorite herb of Nicholas Culpeper, who wrote in The English Physician Enlarged (1653), "If the virtues of it make you fall in love with it (as they will if you be wise) keep a syrup of it to take inwardly, an ointment and plaister of it to use outwardly, always by you". He regarded it as both a wound herb and a cure for hangovers. According to Mrs. M. Grieve (A Modern Herbal, 1931), A. chamaepitys "was formerly regarded almost as a specific in gouty and rheumatic affections". Other medicinal bugles include the Australian A. australis, primarily a wound herb, though also used to treat boils and sores; A remota, used in Africa to treat high blood pressure, which contains compounds with potential in both cancer therapy and biological pest control; and the Mediterranean A. iva, which has anti-malarial properties.

Low-growing, pine-scented annual, with gray-green leaves deeply divided into linear lobes. Small tubular yellow, red-dotted flowers appear singly or in pairs up the leafy stem from late spring to early autumn.

Common Name:	Yellow Bugle
Other Names:	Ground Pine
Botanical Name:	Ajuga chamaepitys
Genus:	Ajuga
Family:	Lamiaceae
Native Location:	Europe and N Africa, on dry bare ground.
Cultivation:	Ajuga chamaepitys thrives in poor dry soil in full sun. Ajuga reptans and it cultivars may also be divided at any time if kept moist. Cultivars of A reptan do not come true from seed.
Propagation:	By seed sown in autumn or spring. Germination may be erratic. Ajuga reptans and its cultivars may also be divided at any time if kept moist. Cultivars of A. reptans do not come from from seed.
Harvest:	Leaves (A chamaepitys) are gathered in summer and dried for infusions and liquid extracts. Plants (A. reptans) are cut in summer; usually used fresh, in ointments or medicated oils.
Height:	15cm (6in)
Width:	15cm (6in)
Hardiness:	Z6-10
Parts Used:	Leaves
Properties:	A stimulant, diuretic herb that acts mainly on the urinary system and uterus.
Medicinal Uses:	Internally for gout, rheumatism, and menstrual problems.
Bibliography:	Encyclopedia of Herbs by Deni Brown Copyright © 1995, 2001 Dorling Kindersley Limited Pp 108