NOMENCLATURE
Angelica: heavenly properties.
sylvestris: wild.
OTHER NAMES water squirt (Som) keiter (Mor) . Kesh, (Cumb). Ghost kex., (Yks) Grand ash,
(Berw, N. Eng). Ground elder, kedlock, keglus (Ches) Jack jump 'bout (N’thantâ). Jeelico, (N. Eng).
Kesh, (Cumb). Kewsi.es, (Lincs).Skytes, (Scot). Spoots, switiks, (Shet).
BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION
TYPE: stout glaborous perennial. Hs. TASTE: root: aromatic taste.
ROOTS : long thick. STEMS: hollow, purplish, pruinose striate pubescent towards base.
HEIGHT: <30-200> cm.
UMBELS: compound, terminal axillary 3-4 5cm diam Rays 15-40, 2-8cm, subequal rays
and peduncle densely puberulent on ridges, sparsely so between. Hermaphrodite Only.
LEAVES: 30-60cm. 2-3 pinnate, deltate, lower primary divisions, of basal leaves long staiked,
segments sessile 1.5-8cm obliquely ovate lancolate, acute. or cuspidate, serrate or biserrate,
cartilaginous teeth, >or< hispidulous both sürfacés, at least on veths. Petioles laterally compressed,
deeply channeled-on upper side, dilated and sheathing at base. Upper leaves reduced sheathing
petioles which >or< enclose the flower buds. Cotyledons contracted into a petiole.
BRACTS: 0-3, caducous. Bracteoles 6-10, linear, setaceous, puberulent, > as pedicels, persistent.
FLOWERS: white/pink, petals suberect, incurved, styles form a stylopodium.
Calyx teeth minute. Protandrous. Fl. 6-7.
FRUIT: 4-5mm. Wings scarious. Ovate, dorsally compressed, smooth. Commisure narrow.
Mericarps with prominent, obtuse dorsal ridges, broadly winged lateral margins, wings wider than
mericarp, undulate. Carpophore present. Vittae solitary. Pedicles 5-19mm, puberulent. Styles 3 x >
than stylopodium, recurved, stigma capitate Protandrous. 2n=22.
HABITAT: fens, damp meadows & open woods river-banks, marshes.
DISTRIBUTION: native, <900m. Common in Britain, Europe. Rarer in South.
Temperate Asia Introduced to N. America.
SUBSPECIES: 10cm plant occurs in turloghs in W. Ireland & exposed sites
in W Scotland, maybe a genetic dwarf.
MEDICINAL USES
ACTIVE INGREDIENTS: essential oily cournarin derivatives.
APPLICATION: expectorant, stomach stimulant, catarhh, cough, dyspepsia: As decoction.
EDIBLE USES
Stems candièd gum arabic & rose water and sprinkled with sugar, or treated with hone
and stewed with rhuarb Robta used in Vermouth, deeds flavour Chartuse.
OTHER USES
Perfume house by burning seeds. Yields yellow dye
http://www.mpiz-koeln.mpg.de/~stueber/thome/band3/tafel_060_small.jpg