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Levisticum officinale
  • Lovage

a perennial member of the Levisticum genus in the family Umbelliferae.

Levisticum officinale - Köhler?s Medizinal-Pflanzen-217.jpg
Niche
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    The ecosystem niches for this plant are unknown. Do you know them? Click the edit button to add them!
Functions
  • Bee attractor
    Bee attractor
    There are no details available for this function.
  • Insect predactor attractor
    Insect predactor attractor
    There are no details available for this function.
Light
  • Full sun
    Full sun
    The amount of sun exposure that a plant prefers in ideal conditions.
    Key
  • light shade
    Light shade
    The amount of shade a plant will tolerate without adverse health affects.
    Key
Water
  • Water Requirementsmoderate
    Moderate
    The amount of water a plant needs for healthy growth, relative to other plants.
    Key
Soil
  • acid, neutral, alkaline
    Unknown
    The PH range (acidity or alkilinity) of the growth medium ideal for healthy nutrient absorbtion.
    Key
  • Sandy to Clay
    The soil texture this plant prefers for optimal growth.
    Key
Cold & Heat
  • 4
    Zone 4
    The USDA Hardiness scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the minimum temperature a plant can survive.
    Key
    0< -53.9ºC< -65ºF
    1-51.1ºC-60ºF
    2-45.6ºC-50F
    3-40ºC-40ºF
    4-34.4ºC-30ºF
    5-28.9ºC-20ºF
    6-23.3ºC-10ºF
    7-17.8ºC0ºF
    8-12.2C10ºF
    9-6.7ºC20ºF
    10-1.1ºC30ºF
    114.4ºC40ºF
    12> 10ºC> 5ºF
  • ?
    Unknown
    The AHS Heat scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the number of days per year a plant requires a temperature exceeding 30ºC (86ºF).
    Key
    11
    21 - 7
    38 - 14
    415 - 30
    531 - 45
    646 - 60
    761 - 90
    891 - 120
    9121 - 150
    10151 - 180
    11181 - 210
    12181 - 210
Levisticum officinale has 6 edible uses listed
Levisticum officinale has 1 material uses listed
Levisticum officinale has 11 medicinal uses listed

Uses

Toxic parts

Lovage is said to contain the alleged 'psychotroph' myristicine[13].

Edible uses

Flowers

Unknown use

Flowers are reported as edible[1]. No details regarding preparation or specific use are provided by the source.

Leaves

Raw, Dried as a Tea, Broth

The leaves can be used fresh or dried and are available from late winter until late autumn. To ensure a good supply of the leaves in the summer, it is best to cut the plants down to the ground when flowering in the summer[K].

A tea is made from the dried leaves. A strong savoury flavour, it tastes more like a broth[2][1].

Root

Grated as a Tea, Flavoring, Vegetable

Root is eaten cooked as a vegetable[3]. It has a strong savoury taste and can be used as a flavouring[4]. It is reported to be best grated[3] and used when 2 - 3 years old[4]. A tea can also be made from the grated roots[1].

Distillation as a Flavouring

An essential oil from the root is used commercially as a food flavouring[1][11]. Yields of 0.5% are obtained[12].

Seed

Raw, Cooked, Ground as a Flavouring

The seed has a strong yeasty flavour, it is used as a flavouring in cakes, soups, salads etc[5][2][6][3]. It can be used whole or ground into a powder.

Leaves, Stem

Raw, Cooked as a Vegetable, Flavoring

Leaves and stems are edible raw or cooked as a vegetable[5][7][8][2] and can be used as a savoury flavouring in salads, soups, stews etc, imparting a yeasty/celery flavour[9][10].

The young stem can be blanched and used like celery in salads[10][1].

Material uses

An essential oil from the plant is used in perfumery[12][11].

Unknown part

Essential

Medicinal uses(Warning!)

Lovage is a warming and tonic herb for the digestive and respiratory systems. It is used primarily in the treatment of indigestion, poor appetite, wind, colic and bronchitis[14]. The roots, leaves and fruits are antispasmodic, aromatic, carminative, diaphoretic, digestive, diuretic, mildly expectorant and stimulant[7][12][2][6][15][11]. They are used internally in the treatment of disordered stomachs, especially cases of colic and flatulence in children, kidney stones, cystitis, painful menstruation and slow labour[7][11]. Externally, the root is used in the treatment of sore throats and aphthous ulcers[11]. The roots of plants 3 years old can be harvested in early spring or in the autumn and are used fresh or dried[9][11]. The leaves are harvested before the plant comes into flower and either distilled for their oil or dried for later use[11]. The leaves, either eaten in salads or dried and infused as a tea, have been used as an emmenagogue[7]. The essential oil from the seeds is used by aromatherapists to remove freckles and spots from the face[16].

Unknown part

Antispasmodic
Aromatic
Carminative
Diaphoretic
Digestive
Diuretic
Emmenagogue
Expectorant
Skin
Stimulant
Stomachic

Ecology

Ecosystem niche/layer

Ecological Functions

Bee attractor


Insect predactor attractor

Forage

Nothing listed.

Shelter

Nothing listed.

Propagation

Seed - sow spring or early autumn in a cold frame. The seed can be slow to germinate so it is probably best sown as soon as it is ripe[K]. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and plant them out into their permanent positions in the summer. Division in spring or autumn. This can be quite hard work due to the size of the roots but the plant grows away very well afterwards. Larger clumps can be replanted direct into their permanent positions, though it is best to pot up smaller clumps and grow them on in a cold frame until they are rooting well. Plant them out in the spring.

Seed

Cultivation

An easily grown plant, it prefers a rich moist but well-drained soil in a sunny position[7][10], though it tolerates some shade[8]. Lovage has very aromatic leaves. It is often grown in the herb garden as a culinary herb[12] and is occasionally grown commercially as a food flavouring[K]. If the plant is cut back to the ground during the growing season it will produce a new flush of young leaves[3]. If the weather is dry at this time, it will be necessary to water the plants in order to encourage fresh growth[K].

Crops

Problems, pests & diseases

Associations & Interactions

There are no interactions listed for Levisticum officinale. Do you know of an interaction that should be listed here? edit this page to add it.

Polycultures & Guilds

There are no polycultures listed which include Levisticum officinale.

Descendants

Cultivars

Varieties

None listed.

Subspecies

None listed.

Full Data

This table shows all the data stored for this plant.

Taxonomy
Binomial name
Levisticum officinale
Genus
Levisticum
Family
Umbelliferae
Imported References
Edible uses
[5][7][8][2][9][10][1][6][3][4][11][12]
Medicinal uses
[14][7][12][2][6][15][11][9][16]
Material uses & Functions
[12][11]
Botanic
[3]
Propagation
Cultivation
Environment
Cultivation
Uses
Edible uses
  • Flowers (Unknown use)
  • Leaves (Tea Broth)
  • Root (Tea Flavoring Vegetable)
  • Seed (Flavouring)
  • Leaves Stem (Vegetable Flavoring)
  • Root (Flavouring)
Material uses
  • Unknown part (Essential)
Medicinal uses
  • Unknown part (Antispasmodic)
  • Unknown part (Aromatic)
  • Unknown part (Carminative)
  • Unknown part (Diaphoretic)
  • Unknown part (Digestive)
  • Unknown part (Diuretic)
  • Unknown part (Emmenagogue)
  • Unknown part (Expectorant)
  • Unknown part (Skin)
  • Unknown part (Stimulant)
  • Unknown part (Stomachic)
Functions & Nature
Functions
Bee attractor, Insect predactor attractor
Provides forage for
Provides shelter for
Environment
Hardiness Zone
4
Heat Zone
?
Water
moderate
Sun
full sun
Shade
light shade
Soil PH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Soil Texture
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil Water Retention
Environmental Tolerances
    Ecosystems
    Native Climate Zones
    None listed.
    Adapted Climate Zones
    None listed.
    Native Geographical Range
    None listed.
    Native Environment
    None listed.
    Ecosystem Niche
    None listed.
    Root Zone Tendancy
    None listed.
    Life
    Deciduous or Evergreen
    ?
    Herbaceous or Woody
    ?
    Life Cycle
    perennial
    Growth Rate
    ?
    Mature Size
    1.8 x 1
    Fertility
    self fertile
    Pollinators
    ?
    Flower Colour
    yellow
    Flower Type
    hermaphrodite











    References

    1. ? 1.01.11.21.31.41.5 Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications ISBN 0-9628087-0-9 (32202/01/01)
    2. ? 2.02.12.22.32.42.5 Lust. J. The Herb Book. Bantam books ISBN 0-553-23827-2 (32202/01/01)
    3. ? 3.03.13.23.33.43.5 Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press ISBN 0-333-47494-5 (32202/01/01)
    4. ? 4.04.14.2 Brouk. B. Plants Consumed by Man. Academic Press ISBN 0-12-136450-x (32202/01/01)
    5. ? 5.05.15.2 Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications ISBN 0-486-20459-6 (32202/01/01)
    6. ? 6.06.16.26.3 Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim (32202/01/01)
    7. ? 7.07.17.27.37.47.57.6 Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin ISBN 0-14-046-440-9 (32202/01/01)
    8. ? 8.08.18.2 Holtom. J. and Hylton. W. Complete Guide to Herbs. Rodale Press ISBN 0-87857-262-7 (32202/01/01)
    9. ? 9.09.19.29.3 Launert. E. Edible and Medicinal Plants. Hamlyn ISBN 0-600-37216-2 (32202/01/01)
    10. ? 10.010.110.210.3 Larkcom. J. Salads all the Year Round. Hamlyn (32202/01/01)
    11. ? 11.011.111.211.311.411.511.611.711.811.9 Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. ISBN 0-7513-020-31 (32202/01/01)
    12. ? 12.012.112.212.312.412.512.6 Chiej. R. Encyclopaedia of Medicinal Plants. MacDonald ISBN 0-356-10541-5 (32202/01/01)
    13. ? Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S. Medicinal Plants of China Reference Publications, Inc. ISBN 0-917256-20-4 (32202/01/01)
    14. ? 14.014.1 Chevallier. A. The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants Dorling Kindersley. London ISBN 9-780751-303148 (32202/01/01)
    15. ? 15.015.1 Mills. S. Y. The Dictionary of Modern Herbalism. ()
    16. ? 16.016.1 Phillips. R. & Foy. N. Herbs Pan Books Ltd. London. ISBN 0-330-30725-8 (32202/01/01)

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