Lovage ( ; Levisticum officinale) is a perennial plant, the sole species in the genus Levisticum in the family Apiaceae, subfamily Apioideae.
It has been long cultivated in Europe and the leaves are 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 spicier than either. The seeds can be used in the same way as fennel seeds.
Description
Lovage is an erect, herbaceous,
perennial plant growing to 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
glabrousness green to yellow-green and smell somewhat similar to celery when crushed. The larger basal leaves are up to 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, diameter, produced in globose umbels up to diameter; flowering is in late spring. The fruit is a dry two-parted schizocarp long, mature in autumn.[Interactive Flora of NW Europe: Levisticum officinale (Lovage)]
Taxonomy
Carl Linnaeus used the
basionym Ligusticum levisticum in
Species Plantarum to refer to lovage.
[ see also Species Plantarum] Levisticum officinale was described later by W.D.J. Koch and published in
Novorum Actorum Academiae Caesareae Leopoldinae-Carolinae Naturae Curiosorum in 1824.
Etymology
The name "lovage" is from "love-ache",
ache being a medieval name for
parsley; this is a folk-etymological modification of the older French name levesche, from late Latin levisticum, in turn thought to be a modification of the earlier Latin ligusticum, 'of
Liguria' (northwest Italy), where the herb was grown extensively.
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.
Distribution
Levisticum officinale is native to
Afghanistan and
Iran,
but has been introduced to most of Europe, and parts of
Southeast Asia,
North America and
South America.
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Health concerns
Lovage root contains furanocoumarins which can lead to photosensitivity.
Uses
The leaves can be used in , or to make soup or season broths, and the 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 can be used as a spice in the same way as fennel seeds.
The plant has long been cultivated in Europe, the leaves being used as a herb, the roots as a vegetable, and the seeds as a spice, especially in southern Europe.
- In the Netherlands, lovage leaves are traditionally cooked with white asparagus and salt
- 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, 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.
- In the UK, an alcoholic lovage Liqueur 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.
[ Information on Lovage Cordial ]
The roots, which contain a heavy volatile oil, are used as a mild aquaretic.
In culture
A recommendation to cultivate lovage on the agricultural properties of Charlemagne appears in chapter 70 of Capitulare de villis, a text written around 800 AD about the maintenance of royal estates.
Notes
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