:''
Ajwain is also known as bishop's weed''.
The 'ground-elder' (''Aegopodium podagraria'') is a common
weed 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 'goutweed', 'herb gerard', 'bishop's weed' and 'snow-in-the-mountain'. It is the
type species of the genus ''
Aegopodium''.
The tender
leaves have been used as a spring
leaf vegetable much like
spinach. It has also been used to treat
gout and
arthritis. The plant is said to have been introduced into
England by the
Romans and into
Northern Europe by
monks.
In some areas this plant is considered among the worst of weeds, readily spreading over large areas of ground by underground
roots. A variegated form is grown as an
ornamental plant, though with the advice to keep it isolated. Ground-elder is used as a food plant by the
larvae of some species of
Lepidoptera including
dot moth,
grey dagger and
grey pug.
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Images
External links
Herbal information
★
Goutweed (''Aegopodium podagraria'') Mrs. Grieve's "A Modern Herbal" @ Botanical.com
Medicinal information
★
Ground Elder Aegopodium Podagraria Online Herb Guide
General information and control measures
★
Plant Conservation Alliance, Alien Plant Working Group: Goutweed (US Specific)