Alexanders

Facts
Scientific Name: 
Smyrnium olustratum
Confusion Species: 
Wild Parsnip
Height : 
1.5m
Also Known As : 
Black Lovage, Black Pot-herb, Hell-root, Thanet Celery
Information
Description : 

Alexanders is a biennial, flowering from May - June and the seeds ripening from June -  September. It grows on a variety of soils from light sandy soil to heavy clay but requires moist conditi

Distribution : 

Southern Britain from Norfolk to the Isle of Wight, Isle of Man

Status : 

Naturalised

Habitat : 

Mostly coastal on cliff-tops and hedgebanks. Increasing inland also. Image taken at Therfield Heath, Hertfordshire. May 2006.

Did You Know? : 

The leaves and young shoots can be used in salads or cooked in stews as they have a strong celery like flavour. The seeds are highly aromatic with a smell reminiscent of Myrrh.

Uses : 

Cultivated in monastic herb gardens as a culinary herb