Perennial Plant Profiles...

Angelica sylvestris, Angelica

We can think of at least 180 great forest garden & perennial crops for cold climate Sweden.  Want to hear about them? Over the course of the next year we will profile 5 a week on the blog. Perennial plants and crops offer a low energy, oil & resource input based foundation for future-proof agricultures. By default if an agriculture is to be called regenerative the bottom line is that it must be soil building, not soil depleting. Relentless deep tillage & poor soil husbandry (wifery?!) contributes to the majority of the 24 billion tons of topsoil lost every year on planet water.  We are going to be focused on holistic polyculture grazing and perennial production at ridgedale over most of the site as this represents the most effective way to restore our degraded landscape, produce high value produce and ensure the future resource base we are managing holistically for in our decision making. 

---

Genus Angelica
Species sylvestris
Common Name wild angelica
Form herb
Habit clumping
Origin Europe
Light part to shade
Moisture wet to mesic
Edible Stalks
Nesctary Yes

All members of this genus contain furocoumarins, which increase skin sensitivity to sunlight and may cause dermatitis.

Grows in fields and hedgerows, open woods, marshes and fens. It is also found in woodlands in dappled shade & shady forest margins but rarely in deep shade.  It can be found in dry or wet habitats but prefers moist slopes. Wild Angelica grows on grazing grounds, cultured land and along streams.  The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs) and are pollinated by Bees, flies, beetles.The plant is self-fertile. 


It is said that the plant is useless for food, but it is known that it has been used as a vegetable until the 20th century. The plant prevents scurvy, and it can be stored. The stem was eaten fresh, and the leaves could be boiled to a stew for storage. It could later be cooked up with milk into a tasty dish. In dire times the Wild Angelica has been an important source of nutrition.  The plant has also been used for dyeing.

Leaves, young shoots and stems can be used as an aromatic addition to salads, or cooked and used as a vegetable. The taste is somewhat bitter. The chopped leaves are a good addition to cooked acid fruits, especially rhubarb. The stem and leafstalks are used in candies and sweetmeats. Seed can be used as an aromatic flavoring in confections and pastries. Root - cooked.

The pulverized fruits are used to kill head parasites. A good yellow dye is obtained from the plant.

Angelica sylvestris roots have been used in the traditional Austrian medicine internally as tea or tincture for treatment of disorders of the gastrointestinal tract, respiratory tract, nervous system, and also against fever, infections, and flu.

---

OUR FRIENDS AT PFAF HAVE AN AMAZING DATABASE OF SPECIES (UK BASED);

Angelica sylvestris

---

We're going to celebrate the turn of the year by giving away a free copy of both Edible Forest Gardens 1 & 2 as part of or fortnightly giveaway. These books are epic to say the least, make sure you sign up to our customizable newsletter for details... Seasons greetings!

---