Angelica montana
a perennial member of the Angelica genus in the family Umbelliferae.
Taxonomy and growth
- Family
- Umbelliferae
- Genus
- Angelica
- Life cycle
- perennial
- Height
- 1.5 m
- Fertility
- Self fertile, Insects
- Flower type
- hermaphrodite
- Pollinators
- Insects
Uses
Toxicity
Toxicity warning. The historical record reports a hazard for this plant. Do not use it to decide which parts are safe to eat or use medicinally.
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
All members of this genus contain furocoumarins, which increase skin sensitivity to sunlight and may cause dermatitis[3].
Edible uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
One report says that it is edible and has an anise flavour, the part that is eaten is not specified[1].
- Plant part
- Leaves
- Plant part
- Seed
Environment
- Range
- New Zealand.
- Habitat
- Coastal to higher montane grassland, rocky and gravelly places, southwards from latitude 38°s on North and South Islands[4].
- Light
- full sun
- Shade tolerance
- light shade
- Water
- moderate
- Soil textures
- sandy, loamy, clay
- Soil pH
- acid, neutral, alkaline
- Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
- No
- Drought
- intolerant
Propagation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Seed - best sown in a cold frame as soon as it is ripe since the seed only has a short viability[2]. Seed can also be sown in the spring, though germination rates will be lower. It requires light for germination[2]. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in a cold frame for their first winter, planting them out into their permanent positions in the spring. The seed can also be sow in situ as soon as it is ripe.
Cultivation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
We have very little information on this species and do not know how hardy it will be in Britain, though judging by its native range it should succeed outdoors in most parts of this country. Plants are much eaten by domesticated grazing animals in New Zealand[4]. The following notes are based on the general needs of the genus. Requires a deep moist fertile soil in dappled shade or full sun[2]. Plants are reliably perennial if they are prevented from setting seed[2].
References
Crowe. A. Native Edible Plants of New Zealand. Hodder and Stoughton 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-340-508302
Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. 1995-00-00 ISBN 0-7513-020-31
Allan. H. H. Flora of New Zealand. Government Printer, Wellington. 1961-00-00