Heal-all (Prunella vulgaris L.)
Heal-all, self-heal, carpenter weed, and, in French, herbe au charpentier are all names for this little weed. Prunella vulgaris L. inhabits waste areas and lawns, becoming small and compact if mowed. The flowers are purple, lobed and lipped and held in a dense head or spike. This is one of many plants belonging to the mint family, easily identified because they have a square stem. The name is of uncertain origin; at one time the plant was called Brunella. Vulgaris means ‘common’.
Drawing this little plant is fun… no matter what you do, the individual flowers resemble small hooded sprites.
Heal-all
Prunella vulgaris L.
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Prunella vugaris neat little weed
prim and proper gone to seed
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called Brunella: gatherers found
Prunella purple fades to brown
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weed, a carpenter busy and strong
mends bare patches on the lawn
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heal-all, self-heal – your name suggests
herbal secret you possess
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© Jane Tims 1994
nichepoetryandprose 
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