There are two varieties of meadowsweet found in Latvia. The first one, the Filipendula ulmaria is found in floodplains. Meadows featuring exclusively meadowsweet are usually not used for agriculture, says botanist Agnese Priede.
Meanwhile, the dropwort, called broad-flower meadowsweet in Latvia, grows in western Latvia in lime-rich meadows.
It's different in that its leaves are smaller than that of the regular meadowsweet.
Meadowsweet tea has a calming effect with a bittersweet taste. It's taken prior to going to sleep and is sometimes stuffed into pillows to improve sleep quality.
Groups of these flowers may take on the look of a yellow-white cloud. Meadowsweet blooms from around Midsummer to early July.
This article was first published on LSM on June 26, 2017.
