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Smyrnium olusatrum
  • Alexanders

a biennial member of the Smyrnium genus in the family Umbelliferae.

248px
Niche
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    The ecosystem niches for this plant are unknown. Do you know them? Click the edit button to add them!
Functions
  • None
    None
    There are no functions defined for this plant. Do you know of some? Click the edit button to add them!
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
    Acid to Alkaline
    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
  • 6
    Zone 6
    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
Smyrnium olusatrum has 0 edible uses listed
Smyrnium olusatrum has 0 medicinal uses listed

Uses

Edible uses

Notes

Leaves and young shoots - raw in salads or cooked in soups, stews etc[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8]. The plant comes into growth in the autumn and the leaves are often available throughout the winter[2][9]. They have a rather strong celery-like flavour and are often blanched (by excluding light from the growing plant) before use[8]. Leafy seedlings can be used as a parsley substitute[8].

Stem - raw or cooked[1][2][3][4][5][6][10][7]. It tastes somewhat like celery, but is more pungent[11][12]. The stem is often blanched (by excluding light from the growing plant) before use[8]. Flower buds - raw[4][9]. Added to salads, they have a celery-like flavour[K]. The spicy seeds are used as a pepper substitute[9][8].

Root - cooked. Boiled and used in soups, its flavour is somewhat like celery. The root is said to be more tender if it has been kept in a cool place all winter[8].

Unknown part

Condiment

Flowers

Unknown use

Leaves

Unknown use

Root

Unknown use

Stem

Unknown use

Material uses

There are no material uses listed for Smyrnium olusatrum.

Medicinal uses(Warning!)

The whole plant is bitter and digestive. It has been used in the past in the treatment of asthma, menstrual problems and wounds, but is generally considered to be obsolete as a medicinal plant[13].

Unknown part

Bitter
Digestive

Ecology

Ecosystem niche/layer

Ecological Functions

Nothing listed.

Forage

Nothing listed.

Shelter

Nothing listed.

Propagation

Seed - best sown in an outdoor seedbed in autumn and planted into its permanent position in late spring[14][15]. Germination can be slow[15]. The seed can also be sown in situ in spring.

Practical Plants is currently lacking information on propagation instructions of Smyrnium olusatrum. Help us fill in the blanks! Edit this page to add your knowledge.



Cultivation

Succeeds in most soils but prefers an open sunny position in a well-drained moisture retentive soil[15].

Hardy to about -15°c[15]. 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[14][1][5][6][16][8]. The seeds are highly aromatic with a myrrh-like scent[17].

A good bee plant.

Crops

Problems, pests & diseases

Associations & Interactions

There are no interactions listed for Smyrnium olusatrum. 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 Smyrnium olusatrum.

Descendants

Cultivars

Varieties

None listed.

Subspecies

None listed.

Full Data

This table shows all the data stored for this plant.

Taxonomy
Binomial name
Smyrnium olusatrum
Genus
Smyrnium
Family
Umbelliferae
Imported References
Edible uses
[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12]
Medicinal uses
[13]
Material uses & Functions
Botanic
[11][15]
Propagation
Cultivation
Environment
Cultivation
Uses
Edible uses
None listed.
Material uses
None listed.
Medicinal uses
None listed.
Functions & Nature
Functions
Provides forage for
Provides shelter for
Environment
Hardiness Zone
6
Heat Zone
?
Water
moderate
Sun
full sun
Shade
light shade
Soil PH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Soil Texture
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil Water Retention
well drained
Environmental Tolerances
  • Strong wind
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
biennial
Growth Rate
?
Mature Size
1.2 x 0.7 meters
Fertility
self fertile
Pollinators
Insects
Flower Colour
?
Flower Type
hermaphrodite

"image:Smyrnium olusatrum1611.JPG|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Smyrnium olusatrum1611.JPG|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Smyrnium olusatrum1611.JPG|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

"image:Smyrnium olusatrum1611.JPG|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Smyrnium olusatrum1611.JPG|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.


"image:Smyrnium olusatrum1611.JPG|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

"image:Smyrnium olusatrum1611.JPG|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

"image:Smyrnium olusatrum1611.JPG|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., "image:Smyrnium olusatrum1611.JPG|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., "image:Smyrnium olusatrum1611.JPG|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Smyrnium olusatrum1611.JPG|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., "image:Smyrnium olusatrum1611.JPG|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., "image:Smyrnium olusatrum1611.JPG|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Smyrnium olusatrum1611.JPG|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Smyrnium olusatrum1611.JPG|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki."image:Smyrnium olusatrum1611.JPG|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.






References

  1. ? 1.01.11.21.3 Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications ISBN 0-486-20459-6 (1972-00-00)
  2. ? 2.02.12.22.3 Mabey. R. Food for Free. Collins ISBN 0-00-219060-5 (1974-00-00)
  3. ? 3.03.13.2 Ceres. Free for All. Thorsons Publishers ISBN 0-7225-0445-4 (1977-00-00)
  4. ? 4.04.14.24.3 Loewenfeld. C. and Back. P. Britain's Wild Larder. David and Charles ISBN 0-7153-7971-2 ()
  5. ? 5.05.15.25.3 Vilmorin. A. The Vegetable Garden. Ten Speed Press ISBN 0-89815-041-8 ()
  6. ? 6.06.16.26.3 Thompson. B. The Gardener's Assistant. Blackie and Son. (1878-00-00)
  7. ? 7.07.17.2 Johnson. C. P. The Useful Plants of Great Britain. ()
  8. ? 8.08.18.28.38.48.58.68.7 Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications ISBN 0-9628087-0-9 (1990-00-00)
  9. ? 9.09.19.29.3 Larkcom. J. Salads all the Year Round. Hamlyn (1980-00-00)
  10. ? 10.010.1 De. Bray. L. The Wild Garden. ()
  11. ? 11.011.111.2 Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press (1962-00-00)
  12. ? 12.012.1 Phillips. R. & Foy. N. Herbs Pan Books Ltd. London. ISBN 0-330-30725-8 (1990-00-00)
  13. ? 13.013.1 Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. ISBN 0-7513-020-31 (1995-00-00)
  14. ? 14.014.1 F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press (1951-00-00)
  15. ? 15.015.115.215.315.4 Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press ISBN 0-333-47494-5 (1992-00-00)
  16. ? Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable ISBN 0094579202 (1974-00-00)
  17. ? Genders. R. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale. London. ISBN 0-7090-5440-8 (1994-00-00)

"image:Smyrnium olusatrum1611.JPG|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

Retrieved from "https://practicalplants.org/w/index.php?title=Smyrnium_olusatrum&oldid=80940"
Facts about "Smyrnium olusatrum"RDF feed
Article is incompleteYes +
Article requires citationsNo +
Article requires cleanupYes +
Belongs to familyUmbelliferae +
Belongs to genusSmyrnium +
Has common nameAlexanders +
Has drought toleranceIntolerant +
Has edible partUnknown part +, Flowers +, Leaves +, Root + and Stem +
Has edible useSeasoning + and Unknown use +
Has environmental toleranceHigh wind +
Has fertility typeSelf fertile + and Insects +
Has flowers of typeHermaphrodite +
Has hardiness zone6 +
Has imageSmyrnium olusatrum1611.JPG +
Has lifecycle typeBiennial +
Has mature height1.2 +
Has mature width0.7 +
Has medicinal partUnknown part +
Has medicinal useBitter + and Digestive +
Has primary imageSmyrnium olusatrum1611.JPG +
Has search namesmyrnium olusatrum + and x +
Has shade toleranceLight shade +
Has soil ph preferenceAcid +, Neutral + and Alkaline +
Has soil teclayture preferenceClay +
Has soil teloamyture preferenceLoamy +
Has soil tesandyture preferenceSandy +
Has soil water retention preferenceWell drained +
Has sun preferenceFull sun +
Has taxonomy nameSmyrnium olusatrum +
Has water requirementsmoderate +
Is taxonomy typeSpecies +
Tolerates nutritionally poor soilNo +
Tolerates windYes +
Uses mature size measurement unitMeters +