Wild Harris
Silverweed
Silverweed (Photo: Laurie Campbell)
Silverweed is one the most common flowering plants on the machair and coastal areas. The leaves are covered in silver hairs – which gave the plant its name.
It is very useful for healing – you can put the leaves into your boots to relieve tired feet!
Silverweed (Photo: Laurie Campbell)
Because it has soft stems it does not get damaged when people walk on it – you can often see the red stems across paths near the coast.
The roots can be eaten – they taste a bit like parsnip.
Silverweed is a favourite food of geese – the scientific name is ‘anserina’ from the word ‘anser’ meaning goose.
by Alison Tyler