^№12
Meadowsweet

Filipendula ulmaria

Once known as “bridewort”. The Welsh wizards Math and Gwydion made a bride for Llew Llaw Gyffes from meadow sweet: “the fairest and most beautiful maiden anyone had ever seen.”

Bridewort features in Chaucer’s 14 century “The Knight’s Tale”to flavour a drink of honeyed ale, and such was it’s fragrance that the 16th century herbalist, John Gerard, writes: “the leaves and floures of meadowsweet farre excelle all other strowing herbs for to decke up houses, to strawe in chambers, halls and banqueting-houses in the summer-time, for the smell thereof makes the heart merrie and joyful and delighteth the senses.”