Horny goat weed is scientifically known as the epimedium plant. Native to the Asian and Mediterranean regions of the world, this plant has a variety of uses---most notably its libido-enhancing effects. Epimedium plants have naturalized in the northeastern hemisphere, and identifying them is easy.
Instructions
Use Caution When Identifying Plants In Wild
1. Become familiar with the several different varieties of goat weed, although most of them share the same basic characteristics, according to Top Tropicals, an online catalog of exotic plants: They grow as ground cover with heart- or lance-shaped leaves and delicate, star-shaped flowers that typically hang downward. The plants are cultivated for their medicinal benefits, which are many, and also found in the wild. When identifying plants in the wild for medicinal or culinary use, it is always important to cross-check several different sources to positively identify the plant before use. Additionally, if you are ever in doubt about use, it is always wise to consult with an expert in plant identification before ingestion. Some plants are seriously poisonous, and if you are unfamiliar with the way a plant looks in every stage of growth it can be easy to mistake one for another. Using extreme caution is always advisable.
2. Attempt to identify goat weed. The first characteristic to look at is leaf shape. Epimedium will have unique lance-shaped leaves that grow off of wiry stems, according to Top Tropicals. These leaves can be found on the plant at any time of year, though in early spring and late fall the usually pale green color becomes tinged in bronze. Leaf size is usually about three inches wide, but can vary some. Overall plant size varies as well, ranging from six to twenty inches in height according toThe Garden Helper, an Internet resource for gardeners.
The flower shape is unique, featuring four pointed petals and appearing in a variety of colors, including white, cream, rose, pink, yellow and lavender. These vary along with leaf and plant size, depending on the particular cultivar at hand. The flowers tend to grow from lateral, wiry shoots creating a distinctive downward facing blooming pattern that is easily recognizable. In addition, multiple flowers appear on each stem, making the plant a beautiful landscaping plant over and above its medicinal uses.
3. Understand what the real and purported uses of the plant are. Although epimedium is most widely known for increasing libido in men and women, it is thought to have quite a few other benefits as well. According to the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, epimedium has been used to treat, "fatigue, arthritic and nerve pain, and sexual dysfunction." Additionally, it is possible that the herb has anti-HIV and anti-cancer properties, though these have not been verified yet. One study has even found epimedium to be effective at reducing bone loss in post-menopausal women. Most of the chemical compounds with medicinal value are found in the leaves of the plant, and they include various flavonoids, sterols, lignans, and others. Perhaps the most significant element is the presence of Icariin, which is commonly said to have libido-enhancing effects, thus giving the herb its not-so-subtle common name, horny goat weed.
Tags: goat weed, according Tropicals, lance-shaped leaves, libido-enhancing effects, plant size, several different