Sanguisorba, commonly called burnets, is a genus of flowering plants in the family Rosaceae, order Rosales, native to the temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere. The genus was described by Carl Linnaeus in Species Plantarum (1753) and comprises roughly 30–55 accepted species.
Plants in this genus are herbaceous perennials or small shrubs. Stems typically reach 50–200 cm in height and bear a cluster of basal leaves along with alternately arranged stem leaves. The leaves are pinnate, 5–30 cm long, with 7–25 leaflets that have serrated margins. Flowers are small, produced in dense spherical to elongated clusters 5–20 mm long; each flower has four tiny petals ranging from white to deep red or purple.
The genus includes species of both horticultural and ethnobotanical significance. Sanguisorba officinalis (great burnet) has a long history of use in traditional Chinese medicine for treating gastrointestinal conditions and bleeding. Sanguisorba minor (salad burnet) has similarly been used in European herbal medicine as a styptic, and its cucumber-flavoured leaves are eaten in salads or brewed as tea. Many ornamental cultivars have been developed, particularly from S. officinalis and S. obtusa, the latter valued for its pink-edged grey-green foliage.
Etymology
The Latin genus name Sanguisorba means "blood stauncher," combining sanguis (blood, cognate with "sanguine") and sorbeo (to staunch or absorb). The name reflects the plant's long-recognised styptic properties, used to stop bleeding in traditional medicine across Europe and Asia.
Distribution
Sanguisorba is native to temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere, with species distributed across Europe, Asia (including China, Japan, and the Caucasus), and North America. Individual species show varied ranges: S. officinalis and S. minor are widespread across Eurasia, S. canadensis is native to eastern North America, and several species are endemic to restricted mountain or island ranges.
Ecology
Sanguisorba minor serves as a larval food plant for the grizzled skipper (Pyrgus malvae) and the mouse moth (Amphipyra tragopoginis). Species in the genus generally favour open, well-drained habitats such as meadows, grasslands, and rocky slopes in temperate climates.
Cultivation
Burnets are cultivated as ornamental garden plants. Numerous cultivars have been developed, especially from S. officinalis, which is prized for its deep wine-red flowerheads. S. canadensis is grown for its white flowers on tall stems exceeding one metre. S. obtusa is valued for its attractive grey-green foliage with pink-edged leaflets. Species hybridise readily, and hybrids are common both in the wild and in cultivation.
Cultural Uses
Sanguisorba officinalis is used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat gastrointestinal disorders and haemorrhage. Sanguisorba minor (salad burnet) has been used medicinally in Europe as a styptic agent, and its leaves — which carry a mild cucumber flavour — are consumed fresh in salads, or dried and used to make herbal tea.
