Elizabethan cure

DAY 140 (23 AUGUST) – Comfrey (Symphytum officinale) (Farnham)

I couldn’t help admiring this plant. There it was all alone in the middle of the water meadows, standing proud, surrounded only by grasses. Its expressive flowers, subtle colours and huge hairy leaves made me love it more.

Comfrey, for some reason, made me think of Shakespeare. Not that I am so familiar with the texts as to remember many plant names. But it turns out the Elizabethans (and many since) did in fact use it for healing wounds and, in combination with liquorice, to treat lung disorders.

So maybe it does come up in someone’s soliloquy – I will keep searching.