A prostrate annual with small fan-shaped leaves and inconspicuous green flowers in summer.
History and traditions
The common name comes from this herb’s vague resemblance to parsley and from the French name for it, percepierre, meaning to pierce or break a stone. Breakstone is an alternative country name in English also and refers to its traditional use in treating kidney stones. Culpeper lists as its chief use that “it provokes urine, and breaks the stone”, and it is still used for the treatment of kidney stones in herbal medicine today.
Culinary
It was a popular salad herb during the 16th century, but the taste is uninteresting and it is seldom eaten today.
Growth
As a wild plant, it grows best in well-drained soil, in sun or partial shade, and tolerates gravelly, stony soils. Propagated by seed sown in spring.
Uses
Medicinal
A diuretic which also soothes irritated and inflamed tissues. It is used for painful urination and in the treatment of kidney and bladder stones.
