The Musk Scent of Summer Meadows

An elegant species of sunny meadows and open edges, recognizable by its pale pink flowers with a delicate musky scent, blooming for months from early summer. Traditionally valued for its soothing and emollient properties, it was considered a “panacea herb”, believed to relieve many ailments; in Sardinian folk medicine it was exposed to the night dew of St. John to enhance its effects. Leaves, flowers and seeds are edible and sometimes used in salads and rustic dishes, while today the plant is also cultivated as an ornamental for its long-lasting bloom.