"62 sturtevant's notes on edible plants 



it is abundant and called wild parsnip, it is stated by Dall * to be edible. Angelica has 

 been in cultivation in England since 1568. The leaf-stalks were formerly blanched and 

 eaten like celery. The plant is in request for the use of confectioners, who make an excel- 

 lent sweetmeat with the tender stems, stalks, and ribs of the leaves candied with sugar. 

 The seeds enter into the composition of many liquors. In the north of Europe, the leaves 

 and stalks are still used as a vegetable. 



The medicinal properties of the root were highly prized in the Middle Ages. In 

 Pomet,* we read that the seed is much used to make angelica comfits as well as the root 

 for medicine. Bryant ' deems it the best aromatic that Europe produces. This plant 

 must be a native of northern Europe, for there are no references to it in the ancient authors 

 of Greece and Rome, nor is it mentioned by Albertus Magnus in the thirteenth centiuy. 

 By Fuchsius, 1542, and succeeding authors it receives proper attention. The German 

 name, Heilige Geist Wurz, implies the estimation in which it was held and offers a clue 

 to the origin of the word Angelica, or angel plant, which occurs in so many languages, 

 as in English, Spanish, Portugese, and Italian, becoming Angilique and Archangilique in 

 French, and Angelickwurz in German. Other names of like import are the modem Engel- 

 wurz in Germany, Engelkruid in Flanders and Engelwortel in Holland. 



The various figures given by herbalists show the same type of plant, the principal 

 differences to be noted being in the size of the root. Pena and Lobel,^ 1570. note a smaller 

 variety as cultivated in England, Belgitim, and France, and Gesner is quoted by Camer- 

 arius' as having seen roots of three pounds weight. Bauhin,' 1623, says the roots vary, 

 the Swiss-grown being thick, those of Bohemia smaller and blacker. 



Garden angelica is noticed amongst American garden medicinal herbs by McMahon,' 

 1806, and the seed is still sold by our seedsmen. 



Arctium majus Bernh. Compositae. beggar's buttons, burdock, clotbur. cuckold. 



GOBO. HARLOCK. 



Europe and Asia and occurring as a weed in the United States. In Japan, burdock 

 is said to be cultivated as a vegetable. Gerarde * says " the stalke of the clot-burr e before 

 the burres come forth, the rinde peelld off, being eaten raw with salt and pepper, or boyled 

 in the broth of fat meate, is pleasant to be eaten." Kalm,' in his Travels in North America, 

 writing of Ticonderoga, N. Y., says: " and the governor told me that its tender shoots are 

 eaten in spring as radishes, after the exterior part is taken off." In Japan, says Johns, the 

 tender stalks are eaten as an asparagus, and its roots are said to be edible. Penhallow " 



' Dall, W. H. Alaska 448. 1897. 

 ' Pomet Hist. Drugs 42. 1748. 



Bryant Ft. Diet. 53. 1783. 



Pena and Lobel Advers. 311. 1 570. 

 ' Camerarius /for/. Med. 16. 1588. 



' Bauhin, C. Pinax 155. 1623. 



' McMahon, B. Anter. Card. Cat. sS^. 1806. 



'Gerarde, J. Herb. Si i. 1636. 2nd Ed. 



Kalm, P. Trav. No. Amer. 2:202. 1772. 



" Penhallow, D. P. /I mer. iVa/. 16:120. 1882. {Lappa major) 



