Peucedanum officinale (L) Sulphur Weed
NOMENCLATURE
Peucedanum : see P. ostrithium.
officionale :kept at the druggist shop i.e. used medicinally.
OTHER NAMES : hog’s fennel, sow fennel, sulphur wort, chuklusa hoar strange, hoar
strong, brimestonewort, milk parsley, marsh parsley, marsh smallage. Persil des marais,
(France). Sumpfsilge, (Germany).
Gunther Flowers (GER) Picture Link to Peucadanum officinale
BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION
TYPE : erect glabrous perennial H. HEIGHT : 6O-2OOcm. TASTE : acrid, pungent.
AROMA : sulphur, when wounded in spring
ROOTS : stout & woody. contains yellow green juice, which dries to a gummy resin.
STEMS : solid, striate, weakly led persistent fiborous remains of petioles at base.
Abundant milky juice, which dries to brown resin.
UMBELS : compound 5-15cm diameter, flays 15-45, 1.5-8cm, smooth, unequal.
Peduncle > than rays, glabrous. Hermaphrodite.
LEAVES : lower 3-6 ternate the primary divisions long stalked, the segments 4-15cm;
sessile, linear, attenuate at both ends, narrow cartilaginous margin, serrulate near the apex
quite entire, spreading in all directions. Petiole long. Upper, leaves less divided, smaller,
with an oblong, sheathing petiole. Cotyledons contracted into a petiole.
BRACTS : 0-3, linear, cadaucous. Bracteoles 2-5, linear, shorter: or ,> than the filiform pedicels.
FLOWERS : yellow Calyx teeth 0 or small, acute. Petals with a long inflexed point.
Styles form a stylopodium. Fl. 7-9
FRUIT : 7mm, elliptical, to ovoid, globose, dorsally compressed. The commisure very broad.
Carpels with marginal ridges forming a narrow or broad wing, dorsal ones filiform, all
equidistant. Carpophore present. Vittae 1-3 in each furrow, as long as the fruit. Pedicles >
than the fruit. Styles = stylpodium, stout, recurved. Stigma spathulate. 2n=66.
HABITAT : clayey banks, cliffs, near sea, salt marshes.
DISTRIBUTION : native. Rare, local. Essex, E. Kent, York, Lincoln C.& S;’
Europe. Naturalised in N. America. S. &C.Europe.
BSBI Distribution Map for Peucadanum officinale (UK)
MEDICINAL USES
ACTIVE INGREDIENTS : peucedanin, (coumarin derivative), active crystalline principle, essential
oil, bitter principle, gum, starch. Dried resin has volatile oil, fixed oil and selinic acid.
APPLICATION : bronchial cough, intermittent fever, stimulate menstrual discharge. In
homoeopathy same ailments at home infusion 2 tspn per cup water, stand 5-8 min 2-3 x day
EDIBLE USES
Vinegar substitute in Russia.
HISTORICAL MEDICINAL USES
Culpepper "The juice with vinegar & rose water or with a little Euphorbium, put to the nose
for lethargy, frenzy & gidiness, falling sickness, inveterate headaches the palsy, sciatica &
cramp Disease of sinews : with oil and vinegar juice dissolved in wine & put into an egg, for
cough or shorthess of breath flatulence, purgeth gently arid softens hardness of the spleen. A little
of the juice dissolved in wine and dropped in the ears or a hollow tooth easeth pains thereof.
Powder of the root cleanseth foul ulcers & taketh out splinters of broken bones, green
wounds & prevents gangrene."
Epilepsy remedy, 20-30 grains 4 x a day 194
EXTERNAL LINKS FOR Peucadanum officinale
These links to trusted websites and institutions may provide in depth or additional information regards cultivation, chemistry, edibility, images etc. for the species. (Some cross over info with P. palustre. Links last updated Aug 2012.
Wikipedia (GER) Plants For a Future (UK)
Bio Info (UK) India Herbs (IND)
Practical Plants (ESP) Essex Bio Project (UK)
'Online Guide To Umbelliferae Of The British Isles' Compiled By J.M.Burton 2002.