Smyrnium olusatrum
| Smyrnium olusatrum | |
| Light: |   |
| Moisture: |  |
| Hardiness: | 6 |
| Soil pH: | 5.6-8.4 |
| Self Pollinated | |
| Life Cycle: | Biennial |
| Height: | 4' |
| Width: | 2' |
| Blooms: | Late Spring-Early Summer |
| Open Woods Forest | |
| Native to: | |
| Shelter | |
| Edible Rating: |  |
| Medicinal Rating: |  |
| Tea: | Yes |
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Smyrnium olusatrum (common name: alexanders)
Propagation: Seed - best sown in an outdoor seedbed in autumn and planted into its permanent position in late spring[1][2]. Germination can be slow[2]. The seed can also be sown in situ in spring.
Cultivation: Succeeds in most soils but prefers an open sunny position in a well-drained moisture retentive soil[2].
Hardy to about -15°c[2].
At one time this plant was extensively grown for its edible leaves and stems but it has now fallen into virtual disuse, having been replaced by celery[1][3][4][5][6][7].
The seeds are highly aromatic with a myrrh-like scent[8].
A good bee plant.
Range: Europe to Asia. Naturalized in Britain[9].
Habitat: Hedges and waste places, often near the sea[9].
Edibility: Leaves and young shoots - raw in salads or cooked in soups, stews etc[3][10][11][12][4][5][13][7]. The plant comes into growth in the autumn and the leaves are often available throughout the winter[10][14]. They have a rather strong celery-like flavour and are often blanched (by excluding light from the growing plant) before use[7]. Leafy seedlings can be used as a parsley substitute[7].
Stem - raw or cooked[3][10][11][12][4][5][15][13]. It tastes somewhat like celery, but is more pungent[9][16]. The stem is often blanched (by excluding light from the growing plant) before use[7].
Flower buds - raw[12][14]. Added to salads, they have a celery-like flavour[K].
The spicy seeds are used as a pepper substitute[14][7].
Root - cooked. Boiled and used in soups, its flavour is somewhat like celery. The root is said to be more tender if it has been kept in a cool place all winter[7].
Medicinal: The whole plant is bitter and digestive. It has been used in the past in the treatment of asthma, menstrual problems and wounds, but is generally considered to be obsolete as a medicinal plant[17].
Pollinators: Insects
Habit: Biennial
Soil: Can grow in light, medium, and heavy soils.
Drainage: Prefers well drained soil.
Wind: Tolerates strong winds
Seed Ripens: Early Summer-Late Summer
Flower Type: Hermaphrodite
Links
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Chittendon, Fred. RHS Dictionary of Plants. Oxford University Press, 1951.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Huxley, Anthony. The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, 1992.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Hedrick, Ulysses. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications, 1972.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Vilmorin-Andrieux. The Vegetable Garden. Ten Speed Press.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Thompson, Robert. The Gardener's Assistant. Blackie and Son, 1878.
- ↑ Usher, George. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable, 1974.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 7.5 7.6 Facciola, Stephen. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications, 1990.
- ↑ Genders, Roy. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale, 1994.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 Clapham, Arthur and Tom Tootin, Edmund Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press, 1962.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 Mabey, Richard. Food for Free. Collins, 1974.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 Ceres. Free for All. Thorsons Publishers, 1977.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 Loewenfeld, Claire and Philippa Back. Britain's Wild Larder. David and Charles.
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 Sowerby, John. The Useful Plants of Great Britain. 1862.
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 Larkcom, Joy. Salads all the Year Round. Hamlyn, 1980.
- ↑ de Bray, Lys. The Wild Garden.
- ↑ Phillips, Roger. Herbs. Pan Books, 1990.
- ↑ Bown, Deni. Royal Horticultural Society Encyclopaedia of Herbs and Their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, 1995.