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Summary

Physical Characteristics

Laserpitium latifolium is a PERENNIAL growing to 1.5 m (5ft).
It is not frost tender. It is in flower from June to August, and the seeds ripen from July to September. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Insects. The plant is self-fertile.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Plant Habitats

Woodland Garden Sunny Edge; Dappled Shade;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts:
Edible Uses: Condiment

Root - used as a flavouring[2, 105, 177]. It was used by the Romans with cumin in order to season preserved artichokes[183]. A decoction of the seeds is used in beer[183].

References More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Stomachic Tonic

Stomachic, tonic[46, 61].

References More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

None known

Special Uses

References More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

An easily satisfied plant, it succeeds in ordinary garden soil[1].

References Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

Type a value in the Celsius field to convert the value to Fahrenheit:

Celsius Fahrenheit:

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Plant Propagation

Seed - sow spring in a cold frame. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Division.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Range

EUROPE: Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden, Austria, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia, Belarus, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Moldova, Ukraine, Bulgaria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Italy, Montenegro, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia, Spain, France (incl. Corsica)

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so itâ€™s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants

Latin Name	Common Name	Habit	Height	Hardiness	Growth	Soil	Shade	Moisture	Edible	Medicinal	Other
Laserpitium prutenicum		Biennial	0.9	-		LMH	SN	M	0	1
Laserpitium siler		Perennial	1.0	-		LMH	SN	M	1	1

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

Expert comment

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Botanical References

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here

Readers comment


Dr. med. Veronika Rampold	Thu Dec 22 2005

The word Laserpitium in formertimes was almost synonymous to "purgative". Fournier names it as tonic, stimulant, diuretic, stomachic, purgative, emmenagogic, resolutive. The root is a bit milky, very aromatic and pungent-bitter. The seeds too are aromatic. The biter substance in the root is called laserpitine, it can split into angelic acid and "laserol". "Laserpitium gallicum, growing on dry soils of the Pyrenees, Cevennes, Apls etc., and L. pruthenicum, a plant of moist meadows, both are diuretics, stomachics and blood-purifiers too." ´ Enough preliminary info for using the Fournier for next website update, Mr Fern? It´s a pity it is not available as reprint but antique-book stores could still have it, esp. in France. to my opinion laserpitium latifolium dos NOT belong to the edible umbelliferae, whilst L. siler root maybe could be edible

Laserpitium latifolium - L.