NOMENCLATURE
Ligusticium: from Greek, ligystikos: ref. to abundance of plant in Italy.
scotium: of N. Britain.
OTHER NAMES: sea lovage. Sea parsley, (Scot). Shermis, shunis, (W. Scot, Hebredies).
BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION
TYPE: glabourous shiny green perennial Hs..HEIGHT : 15-90cm
AROMA: pungent. TASTE : Strong, not pleasant. ROOTS: stock short.
STEMS: terete ribbed, hollow little branched, often red towards the base.
UMBELS: compound, 4-6cm.diam. Rays 8-14 1.5-4cm, subequal,
papillose near top. Hermaphrodite.
LEAVES: 20, 5-10cm, 1-2 ternate. Segments 2-5cm ovate, cunnate, sometimes lobed,
serrate in the distal half, the teeth and apex obtuse. Petilole of lower leaves long, broad
sheathing base. Upper entirely sheathing.
BRACTS: 1-5 linear, entire, membranous. Bracteoles :7, linear to linear-lancolate,
entire, shorter than the pedicels.
FLOWERS: greenish white, sometimes tinged pink. Calyx teeth small, triangular.
Styles very short and stout, forming a stylopodium Fl-6-7.
FRUIT: 4-7mm, oblong-ovoid, subterete, smooth, commisure broad. Mericarps with
prominent narrowly winged ridges. Carpophore present. Vittae several. Pedicels = to
stylopodium, recurved. Stigma truncate. 2n=22..
HABITAT: cliffs, rocky coasts, monasteries.
DISTRIBUTION: native. Local. Scotland and N. Ireland. Extinct Northumberland.
N.W. Europe from Denmark to 71 N. Greenland. N. America.
MEDICINAL USES
ACTIVE INGREDIENTS: volatile oil, fixed oil is, bitter alkaloid.
PARTS: whole plant.
EFFECT: diuretic, improves digestion, stimulates circulation & uterus.
APPLICATION: digestive problems, uterine disorders, rheumatism.
HISTORICAL MEDICINAL USES
Purgative for calves : infusion of leaves. Hysterical, uterine disorder, .carminative :root + seeds.
EDIBLE USES
Young leaves & stalks as veg in Hebredies, boiled or in soups, stews, raw in salads.
Seeds as condiment. Sheep find it delicious. Boiled & eaten by sailors with scurvy
returning from long voyages at sea.
GARDEN USES
Well drained to :dry 5oii in sun Seed spring, division autumn
OTHER USES
Seeds for flavouring senna & disguising the taste of medicines.
