Goutweed

Appearance

''A. podagraria'' is perennial, growing to a height of 100 cm with rhizomes. The stems are erect, hollow, and grooved. The upper leaves are ternate, broad and toothed. Numerous flowers are grouped together in an umbrella-shaped flowerhead known as a compound umbel. The main umbel is further divided into several secondary umbels known as umbellets or umbellules. Each umbellet has 15 to 20 rays that are each topped with a single, small, five-petaled white flower.

The fruits are small and have long curved styles. The flowers are visited by many types of insects, thus being characterised by a generalised pollination system.

Naming

A variegated form is grown as an ornamental plant, though with the advice to keep it isolated.

Distribution

''Aegopodium podagraria'' is distributed widely in the temperate zone of western Eurasia, from France to northern Russia. It has been introduced elsewhere, including Ireland, Great Britain, the United States, Canada, Australia including Tasmania, New Zealand, and Japan.

Habitat

In Eurasia, it is used as a food plant by the larvae of some species of Lepidoptera, including dot moth, grey dagger and grey pug, although ''A. podagraria'' is not the exclusive host to any of these species.

Uses

The plant is said to have been introduced into Great Britain by the Romans as a food plant and into Northern Europe as a medicinal herb by monks. It is still found growing in patches surrounding many monastic ruins in Europe, and descriptions of its use are found among monastic writings, such as in ''Physica'' by Hildegard von Bingen.