Germander

(Teucrium chamaedrys L., Labiatae)

Also Called: Wall Germander.

Description: Small perennial shrub, 20-30cm (8-12in) high, spreading by means of subterranean shoots. Branches round (square in most labiates), more or less hairy and often streaked violet-red.
Leaves 2-4cm (0.8-1 5in) long, opposite, elliptical, hairy with deeply crenate or lobed margin.
Flowers medium large, up to 12mm (0.5in), arranged in groups of 1-6 in the axils of the upper leaves; corolla pinkish-purple and lacking the typical upper lip of other labiates.
Flowering: June-September.
All parts of the plant are aromatic.

Part Used: Dried flowering plant.

Habitat and Collection: On stony banks, rocks and walls, in sunny places, poor pastures, generally on calcareous soils in central and southern Europe.
Introduced in England and Wales; grown in gardens and sometimes naturalised on old walls. Collected when in flower and dried in the shade at less than 35°C (95°F).

Constituents and Action: Germander contains volatile oil and tannin.
It stimulates stomach activity and is antidiarroeal on the intestine; it aids wound healing.

Usage: Usually as an infusion (pour 0.5 litre (1pt) of boiling water on 2 tablespoonfuls of chopped herb and allow to stand) for upset stomach and lack of appetite, rarely for diarrhoea.
Its internal use for skin eruptions is of doubtful value. The infusion is also used as an application to wounds.