Another important source of early nectar for our sleepy pollinators are these fabulous yellow stars appearing along damp woodland paths and tracks, as well as stream banks and ditches. Their usefulness doesn’t end with insects, in the past leaves were used to prevent scurvy, thanks to their high vitamin C content. It has another common name, "pilewort” because it has also been used to treat haemorrhoids. This was based not on science but on the fact the the knobbly tubers were thought to resemble piles! I kinda think being a traditional doctor in the past must have been fun, what it looks like it must treat, makes sense.
By River Six
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