Cowslip

(Primula veris L. Cowslip, P. elatior (L.) Hill Oxlip, Primulaceae)

Also Called: Paigles, Peagles.

Description: Perennial plants with short rhizome bearing several rootlets. Leaves oval, elongated, downy on the lower surface.
Flower stalk rigid, erect, bearing an umbel of 10-30 flowers; calyx light green, angled; corolla elongated tubular with cup-shaped limb of 5 petals;
Flowers of P. veris smaller, golden-yellow, marked with orange spots in the throat of the corolla;
Those of P. elatior pale-yellow and without the orange spots.
Flowering: March-June, depending on the altitude, P. veris slightly later.

Parts Used: 1. Dried rhizome and roots of both species. 2. Dried corollas (or entire flowers) of P. veris.

Habitat and Collection: The golden-yellow P. veris grows in meadows and pastures up to an altitude of 2,000m (6,500ft).
Found throughout Europe and common in Britain.
Flowers are collected when they appear and are dried in the shade at less than 35° C (95° F).
Rhizomes are collected either in the autumn or in spring before the plant is in flower, are washed well and are dried either in the shade or in sunlight.

Constituents and Action: Saponins, chiefly in the rhizome, less in the leaves and calyx, absent in the corolla. Corolla and rhizome contain volatile oils.
Cowslips are resolutive, slightly diuretic and slightly laxative. The rhizome is most active, the corolla only slightly so.

Usage: As a tisane in catarrh of the bronchus (1 teaspoonful of finely chopped rhizome or 2-3 teaspoonfuls of flowers or corollas in cold water, raise to the boil and allow to stand).