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Chenopodium bonus-henricus L., Good-King-Henry

Account Summary

Introduction, archaeophyte, a naturalised garden escape, very probably now only casual and locally extinct. European temperate, widely naturalised in Europe and to a lesser extent in N & S America.

1902; Abraham, J.T. & McCullagh, F.J.; Erne bridge, Belleek.

Growth form and preferred habitats

A more or less ruderal, uniquely perennial Chenopodium species, Good-King-Henry plants are sticky and mealy-leaved when young, and the large, triangular, hastate (with pointed basal side-lobes like a spearhead), entire leaves are often covered with dust when older. The mature plant develops a stout taproot, and in fertile, nitrogen-rich soil it can produce a large, leafy individual up to 80 cm in height. From ancient times, C. bonus-henricus was widely and commonly cultivated as a vegetable pot-herb and possibly also used as a medicinal herb or simple. Nowadays, it typically occurs as a relict of cultivation, or a garden escape or discard, in disturbed, dry, nitrogen-rich farmyard and in wayside situations (always near habitation). On account of its thick taproot which serves as an energy store, it can be long-persistent in less disturbed wayside sites.

Fermanagh occurrence

There are only two old records in the Fermanagh Flora Database for this species. The first local record of it, as listed above, dates from 1902, and the second, which is of uncertain date although not mentioned in the May 1951 Typescript Flora and therefore was probably found sometime between 1951-7, was observed by Meikle and his co-workers. The later record is mentioned in their Revised Typescript Flora simply as being, "on waste ground by railway station at Belleek". Belleek today remains a rather small village in the extreme west of Fermanagh, somewhat isolated since 1957 by the loss of its railway connection.

Irish occurrence

Previously, in Ireland, C. bonus-henricus was well naturalised around houses and gardens as an old cottage garden pot-herb. It was always probably fairly local in its occurrence, but it has not been seen anywhere in Fermanagh for 60 years. Despite the thick taproot and its reputation for persistence, the New Atlas map depicts its decline to local extinction in many areas in Ireland. Against this fatalistic view, Reynolds' Cat Alien Pl Ir lists 15 post-1970 records from nine Irish VCs, proving that the plant does survive the intensification of agriculture in a few favoured localities scattered around the island. Reynolds still regards the species as a surviving relict of earlier pot-herb cultivation. While this might possibly be true of undisturbed sites near habitation or in derelict ground, nowadays in Ireland the plant is very scarce or rare and sporadically recorded, appearing in dockyards and on roadsides, behaving more like a casual weed. Probably it is occasionally re-introduced as a contaminant of grain, animal feed, or with garden plants, and generally nowadays it is seldom long-persistent in ruderal sites. A very similar pattern of overall decline and occasional reappearance as a weed is currently happening in Scandinavian countries (Jonsell et al. 2001).

British occurrence

In Britain, C. bonus-henricus is an archaeophyte introduced vegetable pot-herb dating from the Neolithic-Bronze Age transition (Godwin 1975, p. 157). The New Atlas hectad map shows it is very much more frequent and widespread in Britain than is the case in Ireland. Nevertheless, it becomes less widespread northwards, and in Scotland becomes more eastern and coastal towards Inverness.

European occurrence

C. bonus-henricus is native to the mountains of C & S Europe, extending into late-lying snow-patches on higher ground. It is widely naturalised in temperate areas of both Europe and N America, again being spread by cultivation as an old pot-herb.

Uses

C. bonus-henricus was formerly valued and widely cultivated as a vegetable (ie a pot-herb). The young leaves were boiled and used for food exactly like spinach is today. It is described as being equally wholesome, but more insipid tasting than spinach, and was fed to both humans and poultry (Grieve 1931). C. bonus-henricus was also valued as an herbal medicine, being used to treat both humans and domestic animals, including cattle and sheep. The main uses were as a gentle laxative, or as a poultice or ointment to cleanse and heal chronic sores.

Names

The genus name 'Chenopodium', is a combination of the Greek 'chen' meaning 'goose', and 'pous', 'a foot', a reference to the shape of the lobed leaves (Johnson & Smith 1946). The Latin species epithet 'bonus-henricus' translates as 'Good Henry' (see below). The alternative English common name, 'Fat Hen', which also appears in a German equivalent, refers to its previous usefulness, along with all Chenopodium species, in fattening poultry for the pot. Grigson (1955, 1987) gives a full explanation of the name 'Good King Henry'. The 'king' element apparently is a purely English interpolation. Republicans may prefer the older name, 'Good Henry', used to distinguish the plant from the opposed poisonous, 'Bad Henry', which was another common name for Mercurialis perennis, the woodland Dog's Mercury, which is a very rare species in Ireland. Alternative common names include 'Smear-wort', which refers to its use in ointment to treat sores.

Threats

None.