Lovage

Description

Lovage is an erect, herbaceous, perennial plant growing to 2.5 m 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 glabrous green to yellow-green and smell somewhat similar to celery when crushed. The larger basal leaves are up to 70 cm 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, 2–3 mm diameter, produced in globose umbels up to 10–15 cm diameter; flowering is in late spring. The fruit is a dry two-parted schizocarp 4–7 mm long, mature in autumn.

Taxonomy

Carl Linnaeus used the basionym Ligusticum levisticum in Species Plantarum to refer to lovage. Levisticum officinale was later described by Wilhelm Daniel Joseph Koch and published 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, parts of Southeast Asia, and the Americas.

Health concerns

Lovage root contains furanocoumarins which can lead to photosensitivity.

Uses

The leaves can be used in salads, or to make soup or season broths, and the roots 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 seeds 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 and served with boiled eggs. 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, hair conditioners 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. Furthermore, the dried foliage and seeds are added to pickled cabbage and cucumbers both to aid in their preservation and to add flavour to them. In the UK, an alcoholic lovage cordial 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.

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.

References

References

1. (1993). "The Genera of the Umbelliferae". Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
2. Downie, S. R., Plunkett, G. M., Watson, M. F., Spalik, K., Katz-Downie, D. S., Valiejo-Roman, C. M., Terentieva, E. I., Troitsky, A. V., Lee, B.-Y., Lahham, J., and El-Oqlah, A.. (2001). "Tribes and clades within Apiaceae subfamily Apioideae: the contribution of molecular data". Edinburgh Journal of Botany.
3. Interactive Flora of NW Europe: [https://archive.today/20070621080912/http://ip30.eti.uva.nl/BIS/flora.php?selected=beschrijving&menuentry=soorten&id=3303 ''Levisticum officinale'' (Lovage)]
4. Linnaeus, Carl. (1753). "Species Plantarum". Impensis Laurentii Salvii.
5. W. D. J. Koch. "Levisticum officinale".
6. {{cite OED
7. "Levisticum officinale W.D.J.Koch". Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
8. (May 1993). "Photosensitivity from harvesting lovage (Levisticum officinale).". Contact Dermatitis.
9. (1992). "New RHS Dictionary of Gardening". Macmillan Press.
10. Thyra. (2017-06-30). "Thyra: Lovage/Løvstikke".
11. (15 June 2020). "Blogwatching: white asparagus – A Dutch ritual".
12. (23 February 2017). "În ce fel de ciorbe este indicat să folosim leuşteanul. Cât de multe frunze puternic aromate putem pune".
13. (13 September 2018). "Cum faci cele mai gustoase murături.".
14. [http://www.farehamwinecellar.co.uk/0/4c7a5def1b38652380256a73004609dc.html Information on Lovage Cordial] {{webarchive. link. (2011-10-06)
15. (2012-03-27). "Community herbal monograph on Levisticum officinale Koch, radix". European Medicines Agency.
16. "Of imperial lands and imperial courts Capitulary of Charlemagne".