NOMENCLATURE
Ligusticium: from Greek, ligystikos: ref. to abundance of plant in Italy.
scoticum: of N. Britain.
OTHER NAMES: sea lovage. Sea parsley, (Scot). Shermis, shunis, (W. Scot, Hebredies).
BSBI Picture Link to Ligusticum scoticum
BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION
TYPE: glabourous shiny green perennial Hs..HEIGHT : 15-90cm
AROMA: pungent. TASTE : Strong, not pleasant. ROOTS: stock short.
STEMS: terete ribbed, hollow little branched, often red towards the base.
UMBELS: compound, 4-6cm.diam. Rays 8-14 1.5-4cm, subequal,
papillose near top. Hermaphrodite.
LEAVES: 20, 5-10cm, 1-2 ternate. Segments 2-5cm ovate, cunnate, sometimes lobed,
serrate in the distal half, the teeth and apex obtuse. Petilole of lower leaves long, broad
sheathing base. Upper entirely sheathing.
BRACTS: 1-5 linear, entire, membranous. Bracteoles :7, linear to linear-lancolate,
entire, shorter than the pedicels.
FLOWERS: greenish white, sometimes tinged pink. Calyx teeth small, triangular.
Styles very short and stout, forming a stylopodium Fl-6-7.
FRUIT: 4-7mm, oblong-ovoid, subterete, smooth, commisure broad. Mericarps with
prominent narrowly winged ridges. Carpophore present. Vittae several. Pedicels = to
stylopodium, recurved. Stigma truncate. 2n=22..
HABITAT: cliffs, rocky coasts, monasteries.
DISTRIBUTION: native. Local. Scotland and N. Ireland. Extinct Northumberland.
N.W. Europe from Denmark to 71 N. Greenland. N. America.
BSBI Distribution Map for Ligusticum scoticum (UK)
MEDICINAL USES
ACTIVE INGREDIENTS: volatile oil, fixed oil is, bitter alkaloid.
PARTS : whole plant.
EFFECT : diuretic, improves digestion, stimulates circulation & uterus.
APPLICATION : digestive problems, uterine disorders, rheumatism.
HISTORICAL MEDICINAL USES
Purgative for calves : infusion of leaves. Hysterical, uterine disorder, carminative : root + seeds.
EDIBLE USES
Young leaves & stalks as veg in Hebredies, boiled or in soups, stews, raw in salads.
Seeds as condiment. Sheep find it delicious. Boiled & eaten by sailors with scurvy
returning from long voyages at sea.
GARDEN USES
Well drained to dry soil in sun Seed spring, division autumn.
OTHER USES
Seeds for flavouring senna & disguising the taste of medicines.
EXTERNAL LINKS FOR Ligusticum scoticum
These links to trusted websites and institutions may provide in depth or additional information regards cultivation, chemistry, edibility, images etc. for the species. Links last updated Aug 2012.
Plants For a Future (UK)
Nature Gate (UK)
Bio Info (UK) A Modern Herbal. M. Grieve (UK)
'Online Guide To Umbelliferae Of The British Isles' Compiled By J.M.Burton 2002