Smyrnium olusatrum

Black lovage, Alexanders

Apiaceae Edible: Stems, Leaves, Spice, Root, Flower buds 12,267 iNaturalist observations

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Summary

Smyrnium olusatrum, common name alexanders (or alisander) is an edible flowering plant of the family Apiaceae (Umbelliferae), which grows on waste ground and in hedges around the Mediterranean and Atlantic coastal regions of Europe. It was formerly widely grown as a pot herb, but is now appreciated mostly by foragers.

Description

A herb. It grows over 2 years or keeps growing from year to year. The plant grows 0.9-1.5 m tall. It spreads 45-90 cm wide. It has bright glossy leaves and a furrowed stem. The leaves are roundish and in groups of three. The leaves are divided 1 or 2 times and there are teeth along the edge. The upper leaves are smaller than the lower leaves. The flowers are yellow-green. The fruit are 7-8 mm long. The large black seed follow.

Edible Uses

Leaves and young shoots can be eaten raw in salads or cooked in soups and stews. The plant comes into growth in autumn, and leaves are often available throughout winter. They have a strong celery-like flavour and are frequently blanched by excluding light from the growing plant before use. Leafy seedlings make a reasonable parsley substitute. The stem is eaten raw or cooked and has a pungent, celery-like taste; it is often blanched before use. Flower buds are eaten raw and added to salads, where they contribute a celery-like flavour. The spicy seeds are used as a pepper substitute. The root is cooked and boiled for use in soups, with a flavour somewhat like celery; it is said to be more tender if kept in a cool place throughout winter.

Medicinal Uses

The whole plant is bitter and digestive. It has been used historically to treat asthma, menstrual problems and wounds, but is generally considered obsolete as a medicinal plant.

Distribution

It is a temperate plant. It grows in damp places near roadsides and on the edges of woodland. It is often near the sea and on dunes and coastal cliffs. It suits hardiness zones 6-10.

Where It Grows

Africa, Asia, Australia, Balkans, Bosnia, Britain, Caucasus, Croatia, Cyprus, Europe, France, Germany, Greece, Isle of Man, Italy, Libya, Mediterranean, Morocco, North Africa, North America, Portugal, Sicily, Spain, Tasmania, Turkey, Türkiye, USA,

Cultivation

Succeeds in most soils but prefers an open sunny position in a well-drained moisture retentive soil. Hardy to about -15°c. 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, 2, 27, 37, 61, 183]. The seeds are highly aromatic with a myrrh-like scent. A good bee plant. In garden design, as well as the above-ground architecture of a plant, root structure considerations help in choosing plants that work together for their optimal soil requirements including nutrients and water. Thick or swollen - fibrous or tap root.

Propagation

Seed - best sown in an outdoor seedbed in autumn and planted into its permanent position in late spring. Germination can be slow. Seed can also be sown in situ in spring.

Other Uses

A good wildlife plant with a scent, suitable for food forests and forest gardens.

Other Information

It is cultivated.

Also Known As

Alexander buds, Apio caballar, Baldiran, Cannela, Dag kerevizi, Elhiyyar, Gelendor, Goret, Horse parsley, Kokar baldiran, Lhyyar, Lisciannaru, Macerone, Vrati muz, Yabani kereviz

References (41)

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Bodkin, F., 1991, Encyclopedia Botanica. Cornstalk publishing, p 933
Bremness, L., 1994, Herbs. Collins Eyewitness Handbooks. Harper Collins. p 270

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