- Ground-elder
Taxobox
name = Ground-elder
image_width = 240px
regnum =Plant ae
divisio =Magnoliophyta
classis =Magnoliopsida
ordo =Apiales
familia =Apiaceae
genus = "Aegopodium "
species = "A. podagraria"
binomial = "Aegopodium podagraria"
binomial_authority = L.The ground-elder is in the carrot family (
Apiaceae ) that grows in shady places. It is sometimes also cited as "ground elder", though this format invites confusion by suggesting it is a species of elder ("Sambucus"), an unrelated genus. It is also known as herb gerard, bishop's weed, goutweed, and snow-in-the-mountain. It is thetype species of the genus "Aegopodium ".The tender leaves have been used as a spring
leaf vegetable , much asspinach was used. It has also been used to treatgout andarthritis . The plant is said to have been introduced intoEngland by the Romans and intoNorthern Europe bymonk s.In some areas, this plant is considered among the worst of weeds, as it readily spreads over large areas of ground by underground
rhizome s. It is extremely invasive, and crowds out native species. The smallest piece of rhizome left in the ground will quickly form a sturdy new plant, followed by many more.If a small plant finds its way into an ornamental perennial flower garden it will spread with vigor, resist all attempts at eradication, and make continued ornamental gardening there very difficult.
A variegated form is grown as an
ornamental plant , though with the advice to keep it isolated. It is used as a food plant by thelarva e of some species ofLepidoptera includingdot moth ,grey dagger andgrey pug .__NOTOC__
Images
External links
Herbal information
* [http://www.botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/g/goutwe32.html Goutweed ("Aegopodium podagraria")] Mrs. Grieve's "A Modern Herbal" at Botanical.com
Medicinal information
* [http://www.allaboutherbs.org/ground-elder-aegopodium-podagraria Ground Elder Aegopodium Podagraria Online Herb Guide]
General information and control measures
* [http://www.nps.gov/plants/alien/fact/aepo1.htm Plant Conservation Alliance, Alien Plant Working Group: Goutweed] (US Specific)
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