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Saponaria officinalis L., Soapwort

Account Summary

Introduction, archaeophyte, a rare or very scarce garden escape or discard.

1884; Barrington, R.M.; beside the avenue of Crom Castle, near Lough Nalughoge.

April to December.

Growth form and preferred habitats

A rarely met decorative garden escape or throw out, usually found in small colonies, this attractive, moderately tall, robust perennial has the potential to spread vegetatively very efficiently by the dual means of a creeping rhizome and long stolons. If it manages to establish in the wild, Soapwort can become very long-persistent. It tends to grow in occasionally mown grassy vegetation on the moderately fertile soils of roadside verges and banks, or in rather drier, barer, more open ground, on walls, in quarries or on waste ground. It is very rarely met far from houses, and in some sites it may be the result of fly-tipping of garden waste.

Reproduction

The large red, pink or white flowers, produced from July to September, are self-compatible but nevertheless strongly protandrous, favouring cross-pollination. An intense, sweet perfume is emitted in the evening attracting night-flying insects. A study in C Europe found the frequency of night-flying visitors was surprisingly low, whereas bumble-bees and syrphid hoverflies carried out pollination during daylight hours. Seed set is apparently rather poor (Jürgens et al. 1996). However, vegetative reproduction by runners is efficient and helps establish colonies. Dispersal is most probably achieved by transport of rhizome fragments in soil and garden refuse.

Variation

Previously, this species was included in the genus Silene and referred to as Silene saponaria Fries.

Fermanagh occurrence

In Fermanagh, there are 13 records from ten tetrads, mainly situated around the shores of both parts of Lough Erne, a fact undoubtedly reflecting the human settlement pattern. Most of the Fermanagh Soapworts have 'double' flowers lacking functional stamens, the anthers being replaced by small petaloid lobes.

Apart from the first record above, the local record details are: roadside, near a derelict house, Woodhill, 1 km N of Lower Lough Erne, August 1982, RHN; on wall at entrance to Castle Hume estate, near Coagh Quarry, 4 km N of Enniskillen, August 1982, RHN; Crossmurrin NR, Marlbank Loop, 1 December 1989, RHN; Coolnamarrow Lough, Mount Darby Td, 22 June 1990, RHN; disused quarry, S of loughshore jetty near Knockninny, 25 August 1995, RHN & HJN; roadside, N of Blenalung Bay, Lower Lough Erne, 20 April 1995, RHN; Culliondoo, 5 km S of Lisnaskea, 19 April 1996, RHN; Bigwood Td, W of Boa Island, Lower Lough Erne, 13 August 1996, RHN, RSF & D. Cotton; Bosallagh Bridge, 2.5 km E of Mount Darby, 6 September 1997, RHN & RSF; roadside, near Drumbad House, S shore Lower Lough Erne, 15 September 2002, RHN; Knockninny Quarry, August 2004, RHN.

Irish occurrence

S. officinalis is an archaeophyte and is thinly but widely scattered throughout Ireland. The Irish Census Catalogue has it recorded from 38 of the 40 Irish VCs, the missing two being E Mayo (H26) and Monaghan (H32) (Scannell & Synnott 1987). The New Atlas hectad map shows that the plant has now been recorded in Co Monaghan, but there is no symbol indicating past presence in another VC, namely W Galway (H16) (Preston et al. 2002).

British occurrence

The same New Atlas map shows that Soapwort is very much more prevalent in the southern half of Britain, becoming scarce and rather coastal northwards into Scotland. Previously, it was regarded as possibly native in parts of Britain (Devon, Cornwall and N Wales), but now it is recognised as an established alien archaeophyte throughout (Clapham et al. 1987; Preston et al. 2004).

European and world occurrence

This widely cultivated species is claimed to be indigenous in C & S Europe, but in C Europe the native and secondary introduced ranges are hardly separable due to widespread garden planting. It is not native in most of Denmark and all the more northerly countries of Scandinavia, although it reaches 55°N (Jalas & Suominen 1986, Map 1312). The natural habitat of the species is on streamsides and damp woods on alluvial soils (Clapham et al. 1987). S. officinalis is also a widespread introduced species in N America and occurs also in S America (Hultén & Fries 1986, Map 802).

Uses

Formerly cultivated as a drug, for making a soap-like lather for washing fabrics, and still in use as an ornamental garden plant.

The dried root is the important commercial part of the plant, being a good source of saponin, resin, gum, mucilage and fibre. In herbal medicine, a decoction was used to cure an itch. It was also used to treat jaundice and other visceral obstructions (the 'wood' of the root being a pale yellow colour, this was another example of the 'doctrine of signs' herbalists believed in). Soapwort was also regarded as a good cure for 'old venereal complaints, especially where mercury has failed'. It was also regarded as a tonic, diaphoretic, and a valuable remedy for rheumatism or cutaneous troubles resulting from any form of syphilis. Grieve (1931, p. 748), who provides this information, warned that Soapwort should be very cautiously used owing to its saponin content.

As a detergent, rubbing a leaf between the fingers will produce a slight slippery froth. Boiled in water, the plant produces a green lather that previously was used to lift grease and dirt, especially from fabrics and from animal wool. The presence of saponins provides the desired detergent effect which, like inorganic soap, has the power to lubricate and absorb oil and dirt particles. Since vegetable saponins are much gentler than soaps, they have recently been used for washing ancient delicate tapestries (Mabey 1997).

As a decorative garden plant, S. officinalis has at least four named garden cultivars, featuring double flowered forms and also a variegated plant (Griffiths 1994).

Names

The genus name 'Saponaria' is from the Latin 'sāpo', 'ōnis', meaning 'soap', from the laundry properties of the contained, frothy saponin (Gilbert-Carter 1964). The Latin specific epithet 'officinalis' means 'of the shop', referring to the druggist's shop where it would be available for purchase.

Apart from 'Soapwort' or 'Soap-wort', which refer to the saponin lather that is mentioned above under 'Uses', there are a number of other English common names to examine. 'Fullers' Herb' (Herba Fullonum) and 'Fuller's Grasse' are names that also refer to the removing of stains and impurities from woollen cloth and the thickening of it. 'Fulling', also known as 'tucking' and 'walking' (or 'waulking' in Scotland), was a trade that goes back to ancient times. Other laundry-associated names include 'Latherwort', 'Scourwort', 'Buryt', 'Borith' or 'Borit', and 'Saponary', the last four obtained from the early English herbal with the highest reputation, The Grete Herball of 1526 (Arber 1938). Two other names listed for this species in the same herbal were 'Crowsope' and 'Herbe Phylyp' (Philip?), but the derivation, meaning and association appear unknown (Grigson 1987).

'Bruisewort' is also associated with the plant, a name it shares with Bellis perennis (Daisy), for their supposed efficacy in treating bruises (Prior 1879). 'Mock Gilliflower' suggests the herb may have been used as a cheap substitute for clove or Dianthus (Pink), its spicy odour being used to flavour wine. 'Gill-run-by-the-street' seems to be a rather peculiar local derivative of this name. 'Hedge Pink' might refer to the same idea of use in wine-flavouring, or to one of its habitats, and 'Farewell Summer' to the plants' ability to flower in August and September (Britten & Holland 1886).

Soapwort was taken to New England by early settlers who valued it for treating the skin rash caused by touching Toxicodendron radicans (Poison Ivy), a climbing member of the cashew and pistachio family, the Anacardiaceae. S. officinalis is naturalised in the USA and is known there by two imported English west country names, 'Bouncing Bett' and 'Lady-by-the-gate' (Grigson 1987). 'Bouncing Bett' might refer to the irrepressible vigour of the plant in the garden setting, which tends to lead to its wayside dumping. This name is also applied to Centranthus ruber (Red Valerian), which also shows plenty of vigour, often taking possession of old walls (Grigson 1974).

Threats

None.