Meum athamanticum (Jacq) Spingel Meu
NOMENCLATURE
Meum : from Greek, Dioscordies.
athamanticum : after King, or Mount, Athamas.
OTHER NAMES : bald, (Norse) after Balder, a handsome god Skilenel, spiknel Buelminnie,
mickeri, muilcionn, muilceann, muilcionn, Scot) Baidmoney, (Yks, West) Bawdringie,
(Perth) Hauka, (N'thum).
Floral Images (UK) Picture Link to Meum athamanticum
BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION
TYPE : tufted branched perennial. Hr. AROMA: aromatic of turpentine when crushed.
ROOTS : stock with abundant coarse fibourous remains of petioles. Roots parsnip like.
STEMS : hollow, striate. HEIGHT : 7-60cm.
UMBELS : compound, with 6-15 unequal, scabrid rays 1-5cm. Peduncle longer than rays,
papillose. Terminal umbel with hermaphrodite and few inner male flowers. Lateral mostly male.
LEAVES : basal, 3-4 pinnate segments, lanceolate to ovate. Divisions filiform, >or< whorled,
crowded, the lobes about 0.5 cm, petiole slender, expanded into largely scarious sheath at
base. Cauline small, few, petiole entirely sheathing.
BRACTS: 0 to few, linear to ovate, sometimes lobed, variable length. Bracteoles 3-8,
linear, shorter than pedicels, sometimes lobed.
FLOWERS : white, purplish. Calyx teeth 0. Petals acute, narrowed to base, short
inflexed point. Styles forming stylopodium. Fl. 5-6.
FRUIT : 6-10 mm. Ovoid, scarcely compressed commisure broad, mericarps with prominent thick
ridges, carpophore present, vittae 3-5 in each furrow. Pedicels 1-7 mm, papillose at the
angles. Styles longer than stylopodium, divergent or recurved. Stigma truncate. 2n=22.
HABITAT : grassy places, mountain districts.
DISTRIBUTION : native, 200m. A few localities in N. England, and N. Wales, Scotland to
Argyll & Aberdeen. Local W.& C. Europe to Sierra Nevada & C. Bulgaria.
BSBI Distribution Map for Meum athamanticum (UK)
EDIBLE USES
Roots as food in Highlands. Fresh/dried herb before/at flowering time, & roots, as condiment to
soups, stews, meat. Crushed fresh herb rubbed into pork or lamb before cooking. Adds an agreeable
taste to milk & butter in grazing cows.
EXTERNAL LINKS FOR Meum athamanticum
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.
Wikipedia (EU) Plants For a Future (UK)
Bio Info (UK) National Center for Biotechnology Info (USA)
East Renfrewshire Council (UK)
'Online Guide To Umbelliferae Of The British Isles' Compiled By J.M.Burton 2002
