Native Britain

Latin name: Narthecium ossifragum

Common name: Bog asphodel

Other names: Lancashire asphodel, bastard asphodel, maidenhair, moor gold, yellow grass

Look out for golden clusters of The Latin name, ossifragum, translates as ‘bonebreaker’. This stems from the belief that the plant made the bones of grazing livestock brittle. However, it is now known to be due to a lack of minerals in the sour, calcium-poor pastures where the plant grows, though bog asphodel can be toxic. It was used as a substitute for saffron and as a yellow hair-dye in western and northern Britain, the latter giving it the common name of maidenhair and moor gold. It is also known as bastard asphodel, as it is not a true asphodel, but a member of the lily family, Alliaceae. It was used to treat ailments, including hernias, coughs, inflammation, ulcers and spasms, but more recently it has been found to contain an antibiotic, active aglycone, which is being investigated for benefits to human health.