Smyrnium olusatrum (L) Alexander
NOMENCLATURE
Smyrnium: from Greek, _____ : myrrh, from smell.
olusatrum : olus : pot herb, & atrum: black (seeds).
Alexander: Of Alexandria, N. Africa. Masc. proper name, from Latin, from Gk. Alexandros "defender of men," from alexein "to ward off, keep off, turn (something) away, defend, protect" + aner (gen. andros) "man". Legend attributes it to being a favoured herb of Alexander the Great, (he was a keen gardener).
PREVIOUS TAXON : Petroselinium alexandriurn.
OTHER NAMES : Alexander parsley, Macedonia parsley, horse parsley. Alick,(Kent). Alisanders, skit,
skeet, (Corn). Ashinder, (Scot). Megweed, (Suss). Meliroot, (Dor). Wild celery, (I o W).
BSBI Picture Link to Smyrnium oluastrum
BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION
TYPE : stout glabrous biennial. Hs.
AROMA : pungent when crushed. Seeds aromatic.
TASTE : bitter. Bland taste when bleached.
ROOTS: tuberous tap root in first year. Fleshy.
STEMS : stem solid, furrowed. Old hollow. Branches in upper part, opposite. HEIGHT: 50-450Cm
UMBELS : compound. Axillary and terminal, subglobose. Rays (3)7—15(18) 1—5 cm,
glabrous. Peduncle > than rays, glabrous. Terminal male + hermaphrodite. Lateral male.
LEAVES : dark green, shiny. Basal 30cm. 2—3 ternate or pinnate. Segments 25—80mm rhombic,
obtusely serrate/lobed, stalked. Upper stem lvs opposite, simply ternate, petiole base sheathing.
Cotyledons contracted into a petiole. Bracts few or 0.
FLOWERS : yellow—green, shortly pedicellate. Calyx tiny, inconspicuous, petals inflexed, tip turning towards centre. Styles form stylopodium. Sepals very small, accrescent in fruit. Fl. 4—6.
FRUIT : 7—8mm. 2 carpels joined. Broadly ovoid, laterally compressed, black when ripe.
Constricted at commisure. Mericarps with 3 conspicuous ridges and resin channels between.
Carpophore present. Vittae numerous. Pedicels > than fruit, papillose on the inner angles.
Styles > than stylopodium, at first patent, usually recurved and appressed to the stylopodium
in ripe fruit. Stigma capiate. 2n=22.
HABITAT : hedges, waste places, sea cliffs. ditches, damp sand.
SOIL : Calcareous
DISTRIBUTION: Intro. Naturalised. Common in Kent, N.E., York. Near Monastic gardens in Steepholme, Bristol Channel (Augustian l2thC). In Abbey, Elstow, Bedfordshire (Benedictine 1078). Grown by nuns
prior to 1539 Act of Dissolution. Europe to N.W. France. S.Asia. N.Africa, Macronesia.
BSBI Distribution Map Link for Smyrnium olusatrum
MEDICINAL USES
PARTS : whole plant.
EFFECT : diuretic, benefits digestion.
HISTORICAL MEDICINAL USES
Culpepper, l7thC : “Seed, powdered for flatulence, snakebite, warming a cold stomach.”
EDIBLE USES
Cultivated and blanched like celery, as pot herb. Made into sauce for fish. Young shoots and tops
of fleshy roots blanched and boiled or raw with vinegar. Roots as parsnip substitute.
Much appreciated by horses and Heath Twist moth Philedonides lunana).
Introduced by Romans to impart myrrh flavouring into broths, stews. Old Irish recipe lists Alex ander, Watercress & Nettles for ‘Lenten Pottage’.
The herb of Macedonia of Alexander the Great. Parkinson, 1640 : “Eaten at Lent to digest crudities & viscous humours gathered in the stomache.”
GARDEN USES
Moist, rich, sandy soil in sun. Seed in late summer/early spring.
EXTERNAL LINKS FOR Smyrnium olusatrum
These links to trusted websites and institutions may provide in depth or additional information regards cultivation, chemistry, edibility, images etc. Links last updated Aug 2012.
Wikipedia (EU)
Plants For a Future (UK)
Bio Images (UK)
APHOTOFLORA Images (UK)
National Center for Biotechnology Information (USA)
Dep. of Pharmacognosy, Mansoura Univ, Egypt
Non-native Species Secretariat (DEFRA UK)
Farming & Agriculture Org. of United Nations
Eat Weeds Recipes (UK)
Celtnet Recipes (UK)
Aussie Gardening (AU)