Lovage (/ˈlʌvɪdʒ/), Levisticum officinale, is a tall perennial plant, the sole species in the genus Levisticum in the family Apiaceae, subfamily Apioideae.[1][2] It has been long cultivated in Europe, the leaves used as a herb, the roots as a vegetable, and the seeds as a spice, especially in southern European cuisine. Its flavour and smell are reminiscent both of celery and parsley, only more intense and spicy than either. The seeds can be used in the same way as fennel seeds.[3]
Lovage is an erect, herbaceous, perennial plant growing to 1.8–2.5 m (6–8 ft) tall, with a basal rosette of leaves and stems with further leaves, the flowers being produced in umbels at the top of the stems. The stems and leaves are shiny glabrous green to yellow-green and smell somewhat similar to celery when crushed. The larger basal leaves are up to 70 cm (28 in) long, tripinnate, with broad triangular to rhomboidal, acutely pointed leaflets with a few marginal teeth; the stem leaves are smaller, and less divided with few leaflets. The flowers are yellow to greenish-yellow, 2–3 mm (1⁄16–1⁄8 in) diameter, produced in globose umbels up to 10–15 cm (4–6 in) diameter; flowering is in late spring. The fruit is a dry two-parted schizocarp 4–7 mm (3⁄16–1⁄4 in) long, mature in autumn.[4]
Distributionedit
Levisticum officinale is native to Afghanistan and Iran, [5] but has been introduced to most of Europe, and parts of South-East Asia, North and South America.[5] It has been long cultivated in Europe, the leaves being used as a herb, the roots as a vegetable, and the seeds as a spice, especially in southern European cuisine.[3]
Properties and usesedit
The leaves can be used in salads, or to make soup or season broths, and the roots can be eaten as a vegetable or grated for use in salads. Its flavour and smell are reminiscent both of celery and parsley, only more intense and spicy than either. The seeds can be used as a spice in the same way as fennel seeds.[3]
In Ukraine, lovage (in Ukrainian любисток/liubystok), is considered an aphrodisiac. Traditionally, an infusion prepared from lovage leaves has been used by women for rinsing their hair, in order to attract men with the pleasant spicy smell of the plant. Nowadays, hair conditioners can be bought which contain lovage extract to strengthen the hair. Lovage leaves and roots are also used in salads and as a spice in Ukraine.
In Romania, the leaves are a preferred seasoning for the various local broths and are just as popular, in this respect, as parsley or dill.[8] Furthermore, the dried foliage and seeds are added to pickled cabbage and cucumbers both to aid in their preservation and to add flavour to them.[9]
In the UK, an alcoholic lovage cordial is traditionally added to brandy as a winter drink and is or was popular in Cornwall where it was originally added to slightly spoiled smuggled brandy to hide the taste of salt.[10]
A lovage plant in Germany beginning to bloom in June, 2.78 m (9 ft 1 in) tall
The name "lovage" is from "love-ache", ache being a medieval name for parsley; this is a folk-etymological corruption of the older French name levesche, from late Latin levisticum, in turn thought to be a corruption of the earlier Latin ligusticum, 'of Liguria' (northwest Italy), where the herb was grown extensively.[13] In modern botanical usage, both Latin forms are now used for different (but closely related) genera, with Levisticum for (culinary) lovage, and Ligusticum for Scots lovage, a similar species from northern Europe, and for related species.[13]
Referencesedit
^Pimenov, M. G. & Leonov, M. V. (1993). The Genera of the Umbelliferae. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. ISBN0-947643-58-3.
^Downie, S. R., Plunkett, G. M., Watson, M. F., Spalik, K., Katz-Downie, D. S., Valiejo-Roman, C. M., Terentieva, E. I., Troitsky, A. V., Lee, B.-Y., Lahham, J., and El-Oqlah, A. (2001). "Tribes and clades within Apiaceae subfamily Apioideae: the contribution of molecular data". Edinburgh Journal of Botany. 58 (2): 301–330. doi:10.1017/s0960428601000658.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
^ abcHuxley, A., ed. (1992). New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. ISBN0-333-47494-5.
^Interactive Flora of NW Europe: Levisticum officinale (Lovage)
^ ab"Levisticum officinale W.D.J.Koch". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 17 March 2023.
^"Blogwatching: white asparagus – A Dutch ritual". DutchNews.nl. 15 June 2020. Retrieved 2020-09-30.
^"În ce fel de ciorbe este indicat să folosim leuşteanul. Cât de multe frunze puternic aromate putem pune". adevarul.ro. 23 February 2017. Retrieved 2019-03-17.
^"Cum faci cele mai gustoase murături". Adevarul newspaper. 13 September 2018. Retrieved 17 March 2019.
^Information on Lovage Cordial 2011-10-06 at the Wayback Machine
^"Community herbal monograph on Levisticum officinale Koch, radix" (PDF). European Medicines Agency. 2012-03-27. Retrieved 2015-07-28.
^Ashwood-Smith MJ, Ceska O, Yeoman A, Kenny PG (May 1993). "Photosensitivity from harvesting lovage (Levisticum officinale)". Contact Dermatitis. 26 (5): 356–7. doi:10.1111/j.1600-0536.1992.tb00138.x. PMID 1395606. S2CID 30154586.
Media related to Levisticum officinale at Wikimedia Commons
December 19, 2023
lovage, band, band, levisticum, officinale, tall, perennial, plant, sole, species, genus, levisticum, family, apiaceae, subfamily, apioideae, been, long, cultivated, europe, leaves, used, herb, roots, vegetable, seeds, spice, especially, southern, european, cu. For the band see Lovage band Lovage ˈ l ʌ v ɪ dʒ Levisticum officinale is a tall perennial plant the sole species in the genus Levisticum in the family Apiaceae subfamily Apioideae 1 2 It has been long cultivated in Europe the leaves used as a herb the roots as a vegetable and the seeds as a spice especially in southern European cuisine Its flavour and smell are reminiscent both of celery and parsley only more intense and spicy than either The seeds can be used in the same way as fennel seeds 3 LovageScientific classificationKingdom PlantaeClade TracheophytesClade AngiospermsClade EudicotsClade AsteridsOrder ApialesFamily ApiaceaeSubfamily ApioideaeGenus LevisticumHillSpecies L officinaleBinomial nameLevisticum officinaleW D J Koch Contents 1 Description 2 Distribution 3 Properties and uses 4 Etymology 5 References 6 External linksDescription edit nbsp Lovage flowersLovage is an erect herbaceous perennial plant growing to 1 8 2 5 m 6 8 ft tall with a basal rosette of leaves and stems with further leaves the flowers being produced in umbels at the top of the stems The stems and leaves are shiny glabrous green to yellow green and smell somewhat similar to celery when crushed The larger basal leaves are up to 70 cm 28 in long tripinnate with broad triangular to rhomboidal acutely pointed leaflets with a few marginal teeth the stem leaves are smaller and less divided with few leaflets The flowers are yellow to greenish yellow 2 3 mm 1 16 1 8 in diameter produced in globose umbels up to 10 15 cm 4 6 in diameter flowering is in late spring The fruit is a dry two parted schizocarp 4 7 mm 3 16 1 4 in long mature in autumn 4 Distribution editLevisticum officinale is native to Afghanistan and Iran 5 but has been introduced to most of Europe and parts of South East Asia North and South America 5 It has been long cultivated in Europe the leaves being used as a herb the roots as a vegetable and the seeds as a spice especially in southern European cuisine 3 Properties and uses editThe leaves can be used in salads or to make soup or season broths and the roots can be eaten as a vegetable or grated for use in salads Its flavour and smell are reminiscent both of celery and parsley only more intense and spicy than either The seeds can be used as a spice in the same way as fennel seeds 3 In the Netherlands lovage leaves are traditionally cooked with white asparagus and salt 6 better source needed and served with boiled eggs 7 irrelevant citation In Ukraine lovage in Ukrainian lyubistok liubystok is considered an aphrodisiac Traditionally an infusion prepared from lovage leaves has been used by women for rinsing their hair in order to attract men with the pleasant spicy smell of the plant Nowadays hair conditioners can be bought which contain lovage extract to strengthen the hair Lovage leaves and roots are also used in salads and as a spice in Ukraine In Romania the leaves are a preferred seasoning for the various local broths and are just as popular in this respect as parsley or dill 8 Furthermore the dried foliage and seeds are added to pickled cabbage and cucumbers both to aid in their preservation and to add flavour to them 9 In the UK an alcoholic lovage cordial is traditionally added to brandy as a winter drink and is or was popular in Cornwall where it was originally added to slightly spoiled smuggled brandy to hide the taste of salt 10 The roots which contain a heavy volatile oil are used as a mild aquaretic 11 Lovage root contains furanocoumarins which can lead to photosensitivity 12 Etymology edit nbsp A lovage plant in Germany beginning to bloom in June 2 78 m 9 ft 1 in tallThe name lovage is from love ache ache being a medieval name for parsley this is a folk etymological corruption of the older French name levesche from late Latin levisticum in turn thought to be a corruption of the earlier Latin ligusticum of Liguria northwest Italy where the herb was grown extensively 13 In modern botanical usage both Latin forms are now used for different but closely related genera with Levisticum for culinary lovage and Ligusticum for Scots lovage a similar species from northern Europe and for related species 13 References edit Pimenov M G amp Leonov M V 1993 The Genera of the Umbelliferae Royal Botanic Gardens Kew ISBN 0 947643 58 3 Downie S R Plunkett G M Watson M F Spalik K Katz Downie D S Valiejo Roman C M Terentieva E I Troitsky A V Lee B Y Lahham J and El Oqlah A 2001 Tribes and clades within Apiaceae subfamily Apioideae the contribution of molecular data Edinburgh Journal of Botany 58 2 301 330 doi 10 1017 s0960428601000658 a href Template Cite journal html title Template Cite journal cite journal a CS1 maint multiple names authors list link a b c Huxley A ed 1992 New RHS Dictionary of Gardening ISBN 0 333 47494 5 Interactive Flora of NW Europe Levisticum officinale Lovage a b Levisticum officinale W D J Koch Plants of the World Online Royal Botanic Gardens Kew Retrieved 17 March 2023 Thyra 2017 06 30 Thyra Lovage Lovstikke Thyra Retrieved 2020 09 30 Blogwatching white asparagus A Dutch ritual DutchNews nl 15 June 2020 Retrieved 2020 09 30 In ce fel de ciorbe este indicat să folosim leusteanul Cat de multe frunze puternic aromate putem pune adevarul ro 23 February 2017 Retrieved 2019 03 17 Cum faci cele mai gustoase murături Adevarul newspaper 13 September 2018 Retrieved 17 March 2019 Information on Lovage Cordial Archived 2011 10 06 at the Wayback Machine Community herbal monograph on Levisticum officinale Koch radix PDF European Medicines Agency 2012 03 27 Retrieved 2015 07 28 Ashwood Smith MJ Ceska O Yeoman A Kenny PG May 1993 Photosensitivity from harvesting lovage Levisticum officinale Contact Dermatitis 26 5 356 7 doi 10 1111 j 1600 0536 1992 tb00138 x PMID 1395606 S2CID 30154586 a b lovage Oxford English Dictionary Online ed Oxford University Press Subscription or participating institution membership required External links edit nbsp Media related to Levisticum officinale at Wikimedia Commons Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Lovage amp oldid 1190532642, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
