NOTES ON THE FAMILY UMBELLIFERAE 101
CRITHMUM MARITIMUM. Samphire. This plant
grows in rocky places near the sea. It has yellowish-green
flowers and fleshy ternate segments to the leaves, which are
very succulent. In former times they were used in salads
and preserved as a pickle. Gerard made these observations
on the plant : '' the whole plant is of a spicie taste with a
certaine saltinesse "—" the pleasantest sauce, most familiar,
and best agreeing with man's bodie for digestion of meates".
The fruits are somewhat like miniature barley grains, which
the generic name implies. Samphire, formerly Sampler, is
a corruption of Saint Pierre, as the plant was once known as
St. Peter's cress because it grew in the crevices of rocks.
SMYRNIUM OLUSATRUM. Alexanders. This plant
has been cultivated from earliest times, although its former
merit as a garden vegetable has long since gone out of
fashion. Before celery was introduced, the lower stems were
blanched and eaten, but its flavour was said to be much
stronger. The leaves were eaten in salads and as a pot-herb,
a fact which can be appreciated, as the bright green leaves
can be seen in hedgerows in the severest weather. In the
lean winter months our forefathers gladly took advantage of
such a gift from Nature. No doubt its prevalence round old
buildings gives an indication of this. Its former common
name was Alisander, and the generic name is from the Greek
"Smurna", a name of myrrh, referring to the scent, while
olusatrum refers to the jet black fruits.
ARCHANGELICA OFFICINALIS. The garden angelica
was introduced into England about 1568, and was grown
extensively in gardens for its many uses. The stems were
blanched and eaten like celery, also candied as a sweetmeat.
The leaves and fruits, being very aromatic, were used for
their supposed medicinal properties. Most herbs with the
title officinalis were sold as medicines. This plant is bound
up in legend and was supposed to have been revealed by the
Archangel Gabriel. A. officinalis has green flowers and
stems and larger decurrent leaves than wild angelica, which
has white flowers and reddish stems. Angelica was at one
time held in great repute as an antidote for poisons, a remedy
against the plague and infections, and invaluable against
witchcraft and enchantments. Hence angelica for its
"angelic" qualities.
The scientific names are as given in the London Catalogue, 11th Edition,
and Druce's British Plant list.