About 15-20 species; see text

Sanguisorba is a genus of 15-20 species of perennial herbs or small shrubs in the family Rosaceae, native to the temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere. The common name is Burnet. The stems grow to 50-200 cm tall, with a cluster of basal leaves, and further leaves arranged alternately up the stem. The leaves are pinnate, 5-30 cm long, with 7-25 leaflets, the leaflets with a serrated margin. Young leaves grow from the crown in the center of the plant. The flowers are small, produced in dense clusters 5-20 mm long; each flower has four very small petals, white to red in colour.

Species

• Sanguisorba canadensis - Canadian Burnet
• Sanguisorba dodecandra - Italian Burnet
• Sanguisorba hakusanensis - Hakusan Burnet
• Sanguisorba menendezii - Canary Islands Burnet
• Sanguisorba minor - Salad Burnet
• Sanguisorba obtusa - Japanese Burnet
• Sanguisorba officinalis - Great Burnet
• Sanguisorba tenuifolia - Asian Burnet

Cultivation and uses

It tolerates drought, heat and cold well. The leaves of S. minor have a mild, cucumber-like taste, and are sometimes used in salads. A poultice of its leaves will stop minor bleeding.

External Links

• Medicinal uses of Burnet in Armenia