Conopodium majus

Description

It has a smooth, slender, stem, up to 40 cm high, much-divided leaves, and small, white flowers in many-rayed terminal compound umbels.

The rounded "nut" (inconsistently described by authorities as a tuber, corm, or root) is similar to a chestnut in its brown colour and its size, up to 25 mm in diameter; its sweet, aromatic flavour has been compared to that of the chestnut, hazelnut, sweet potato, and Brazil nut.

Distribution and habitat

The plant is common and native to western Europe, the British Isles and Norway. It grows in hedgerows, woods and fields and is an indicator of long-established grassland.

It is never found on alkaline soils in the wild.

Uses

This species responds to cultivation by producing larger tubers. With careful selective breeding, it is probably possible to produce a much more productive plant.

Palatable and nutritious, its eating qualities are widely praised, and it is popular among wild food foragers, but it remains a minor crop, due in part to its low yields and difficulty of harvest.

In culture

William Shakespeare wrote, "I prithee, let me bring thee where crabs grow; and I with my long nails will dig thee pignuts". Nicholas Culpeper wrote in his Complete Herbal:A description of them were needless, for every child knows them. Government and virtues: They are something hot and dry in quality, under the dominion of Venus; they provoke lust exceedingly, and stir up those sports she is mistress of; the seed is excellent good to provoke urine; and so also is the root, but it does not perform it so forcibly as the seed doth. The root being dried and beaten into powder, and the powder being made into an electuary, is a singular remedy for spitting and pissing of blood, as the former chestnut was for coughs.

References

References

1. Hedrick. U. P. ''Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World''.
2. Stace, C. A.. (2019). "New Flora of the British Isles". C & M Floristics.
3. (2003). "Wild flowers of Britain and Ireland: The Complete Guide to the British and Irish Flora.". A & C Black.
4. "''Conopodium majus'' (Gouan) Loret". Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
5. Loewenfeld. C. and Back. P. ''Britain's Wild Larder''.
6. Johnson. C. P. ''The Useful Plants of Great Britain''.
7. Ken Fern Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
8. [[Caliban (character). Caliban]], ''[[The Tempest]]'' by [[William Shakespeare]]
9. (1975). "Culpeper's Complete Herbal". W. Foulsham and Co.