Bunium bulbocastanum (L) Great Pignut
NOMENCLATURE
bulbocastanum : from Greek, ____________ chestnut like tuber/bulb.
Pignut: pigs eat roots.
BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION
TYPE : glabourous perennial. G. HEIGHT: 30—100cm.
ROOTS : one. globose, dark brown tuber 1—2.5cm
STEMS : erect, terete, striate, solid. Subterranean part of stem flexuous and tapering downwards.
UMBELS : 3—8cm. Compound, flat topped. Rays 10—20, 15—45mm.
scabrid on angles. Peduncle > than rays.
LEAVES : 10—15cm, arising from lower part of stem, broadly triangular, 3 pinnate,
withered at flrng time, lobes 5—10mm, linear, spathulate to subulate & cartilaginous apex.
Uppermost 2 pinnate. Petiole of lower lvs long, slender, expanded into a sheathing base.
Petiole of upper leaves wide, sheathing. Cotyledons tapered at base, no petiole. One cotyledon
aborted in development.
BRACTS : 5—19, small linear—lanceolate, acuminate. Bracteoles 5—10, linear to lanceolate.
FLOWERS: white. Hermaphrodite, & a few male firs. Late developing laterals all
male. Sepals a minute rim. Petals obovate, emarginate, inflexed apex. Styles
forming a stylopodium. Fl. 6—7.
FRUIT : 3.5—4.5 mm oblong—ellipsoid, laterally compressed. Dark brown, paler ridges. Constricted
at commisure. Mericarps with slender ridges, solitary reddish brown vittae. Carpophor€ present.
Pedicels 2—6mm. Styles = stylopodium, recurved in fruit. Stigma capitate. 2n=22.
HABITAT : very chalky grassland, banks.
DISTRIBUTION : Local in Herts, Bucks, Bedford, Camb. Europe, N. to England,
E. to C. Germany. & N.W. Yugoslavia. N.W. Africa.
EDIBLE USES
Tuber edible raw or cooked
