Wood betony is commonly known as Bishop's wort and an important herb
among Anglo-Saxons.
This herb has historical belief that in earlier time's wood betony is
used to as amulet to ward off all evil that effect human body.
It is a perennial herb which is naturalized in eastern North America,
south to northern Mexico and east of Florida.
It is low growing plant, a bit hairy, 5 to 14 inches tall having five
erected unbranched stems.
The flower is two-lipped white-purplish, arranged in dense rings that
form short spikes. The corolla forms a long tube that ends in two lips as
the upper lip is arched and lower one is flat having three equal lobes.
Wood betony is hardy and difficult to grow, as it usually grows at the
roadside, open woods and other moist areas.
It thrives in moist well-drained soil and grows best in full sunlight or
partial shaded area.
Flower and roots
Wood betony constitutes of alkaloids like stachydrine and trigonelline,
tannins and saponins.