Title: About Goatweed
Categories: Herb Info
Yield: 1 Servings

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Ground elder (aegopodium podagraria) Widespread and common in shady places under hedges, in gardens, etc. Flowers June to August, white umbels on a creeping, hairless stem, never much more than 1 to 2 ft (30-60 cm) high. Leaves: finely toothed, in groups of three at the end of leaf stems.

Neither an ash nor an elder, goutweed's leaves do bear a superficial resemblance to both these trees. ... Probably introduced into this [i.e. UK] country by the ROmans. In the Middle Ages is was grown in gardens as a vegetable, and at roadside inns and monasteries as a quick palliative for travellers' gout. Advances in medical understanding put paid to the second of these functions and the growing preference for bland-tasting vegetables to the first [Not by this group certainly!]. Any popularity is still retained was finally undermined by the imperialistic tendencies of its rootstock, which would quickly take over its host's garden. ... Still, it is an agreeable vegetable cooked like spinach, with an unusual tangy flavour.

Anneke

From: Jhm.Houtkamp@ubvu.Vu.Nl Date: 21 Jan 97 Chile-Heads List Ä

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