Ground Elder
|
Botanical Name |
Aegopodium podagraria |
|
Family |
Apiaceae |
|
Other Names |
Ashweed, bishopweed, goat weed, goutweed, ground ash, herb Gerard |
|
Habitat |
Shady waste places, roadsides, hedges |
|
Description |
Hairless perennial or biennial forming large patches 30-100cm/12-40in tall. Hollow stem Leaves finely toothed, stalked in groups of three at the end of each stem. Flowers white umbels June –August |
|
Native to |
Europe |
|
Harvesting |
When flowers are out |
|
Actions |
Diuretic, pain reliever, sedative |
|
Constituents |
Essential oil Flavonoids –hyperoside, isoquercitrin, kaempferol rhamnoglucoside. Furanocoumarins –umbelliferone, peucedanin, xanthotoxin Volatile oil Caffeic acid derivatives –chlorogenic scid |
|
Culinary Uses |
Cooked, salads |
|
Circulatory muscle joint |
Gout, rheumatism |
|
Other Notes |
Introduced to Britain by the Romans Grown in medieval times as a vegetable The botanical name is derived from the Greek “aigos” –goat and “podos” –feet |