Apium gravolens (L) Wild Celery
NOMENCLATURE
Apium : from apis : a bee.
gravolens : strong smelling:
OTHER NAMES : smallage.
OTHER NAMES: for Var. dulce : celeri, (France). Sedano, (Italy). Apio, (Spain). Sellerie, (Germany). Sederii, (Dutch). Sellerie, (Danish). Selino, (Greek). Selderei, (Russ). Celer, (Yug).
OTHER NAMES: for Var. rapaceurn : celeri-rave, (France). Sedano rapa, (Italy). Apio nabo,(Spn). Knol lensel lerie, (Germany). Knolselderi j, (Dtch). Knoldesellerie, (Danish) Rapanoselino, (Greek).
BOTANICAL DESCRIPTI0N
TYPE: erect pubescent biennial. Hs. STATUS: mildly poisonous. HEIGHT : 3O-1OOcm
AROMA: strong. sme11 of ce1ery. TASTE: warm. ROOTS: tap root.
STEMS: erect, strongly grooved. UMBELS: often leaf oppsed, terminal, axillary
Shortly pedunculate or sessile in the axi1 of a small ternate leaf, rays unequal.
LEAVES: lower simply pinnate parirs of stalked, coarsely toothed, segments 1-5cm, deltate
to rhombic lobed and serrate, lower stalked Upper leaves sessile 3-Md or simply
pinnate, with 1 pair of lobes and a short petiole sheathing all its length Upper stem leaves
ternate, narrowly rhombic to lancolate, subentire. Petiole slender with sheathing base.
Bracts absent. Cotyledons abruptly contracted into a petiole.
FLOWERS: greenish white Petals entire, acute, the point shortly
reflexed. Styles form a stylopodium. Fl. 6-8.
FRUIT: 1.5-mm tiny, black, broadly ovoid, laterally compressed, smooth. Commisure narrow.
Carpels with 5 equal or unequal ridges. Carpophore present. Vittae solitary. Pedicels 2-4 mm.
Styles as long as stylopodium, recurved & appressed. Stigma a small knob. 2n=22.
HABITAT: damp places by rivers, ditches. Especially near the sea. Brackish, calcerous soils.
DISTRIBUTION: native. Local, 'near coast’s, Rarer in N. up to S. Scotland. Ireland: whole.
coast. Europe: to 56 N.. S.W. Asia. Macronesia. N. Africa. Introduced to temperate countries.
MEDICINAL USES
ACTIVE INGREDIENTS : Seeds: essential oil. Flavone glycoside, aplin, falcarinon, carvecol.
EFFECT : Aphrodisiac, diuretic, tonic, reduces blood pressure, relieves indigestion,
stimulates the uterus, anti-inflammatory, sedative.
APPLICATION : homoeopathy : kidney complaints, rheumatic pain, gout, inflammation
of urinary tract. Externally for fungal infections, tumours. Juice pressed from 1 eaves
& roots, 1 tbspn 3. times day. Excess causes miscarriage
HISTORICAL MEDICINAL USES
Used by Ancient Egyptians.
Carminative, stimulant, diuretic, tonic, nervane Used in hysteria, promotes rest & sleep.
Combined with Scutellaria cutellaria for. nervous; cases with loss of tone, oil or: fresh root.
Rheumatis with Coca & Darniana.
EDIBLE USES
Small amounts as mildly poisonous. Condiment to flavour cheese. Raw in salads, hors d’oerves.
Seeds as flavouring in soups & stews.
Selection over 2000 years, produced edible Celery. Cultivated variety originated in Venice,
in gardens of the Venetian Ambassador in Bishops Gate.
Var. dulce, Celery, grown for its petioles. Raw in salads, soups, stews, braised meat, veg dishes.
Var. rapaceum, Celeriac, grown for its edible swollen rootstock. Flavours dehydrated salt.
Cultivars ‘Golden Self Blanching’ & ‘American Winter Green’ grown without blanching.
GARDEN USES
Rich damp soil, sheltered position, in sun or part shade.
Tolerates saline soil. Seed spring. Prone to slugs.
http://www.mpiz-koeln.mpg.de/~stueber/thome/band3/tafel_050_small.jpg
