Dryas octopetala

Dryas octopetala

Plant Family

Rosaceae

Botanical Description

Mountain Avens is a dwarf evergreen shrub growing 5-10 cm tall with small, leathery, scalloped leaves and large white eight-petaled flowers. After flowering, produces distinctive feathery seed heads.

Cautions

Limited safety data. Not commonly used medicinally today.

Habitat

Arctic and alpine regions, limestone areas, exposed mountain ridges, tundra.

Harvest Instructions

Aerial parts harvested sparingly. Traditional use only. Respect alpine environments.

Geographic Distribution

Circumpolar in arctic and alpine regions including Iceland, Scandinavia, Alps, and northern North America.

Growth Conditions

Full sun. Well-drained, alkaline to neutral soil. Cold hardy. Nitrogen-fixing root nodules.

Plant Size

5-10 cm

Body Systems

Digestive

Effects on the Body

Traditional astringent use. Limited modern research. Very mild action.

Active Constituents

Tannins, flavonoids.

Safety Information

Dosage

Traditional use only in small amounts.

Culinary Use

Not used culinarily.

Folklore & Historical Use

National flower of Iceland. Important pioneer species after glaciers retreat. Fossil leaves used to track climate change.

Scientific Research

Very limited clinical research available. Traditional use in Arctic folk medicine. Contains tannins and flavonoids. No standardized medicinal preparations available.