Native to Europe and Western Asia, tormentil is a small clump-forming plant with bright yellow four-petalled flowers blooming from May to September. If the inspiration to explore the Irish countryside had prompted your visit to Howth, you probably have noticed these beautiful flowers during your hike (tormentils are easy to spot, as they are scattered across heathland and grassy banks along sections of the Howth Cliff Walk). This flower offers more than just aesthetic pleasure; recent research led by scientists from the University of Southampton, Trinity College Dublin and Brunel University of London revealed that tormentil’s antimicrobial properties are powerful enough to fight antibiotic-resistant bacteria.... Read more »