SCIENTIFIC NAME :: Petrolinum Crispium
FAMILY:: Umbrellifereae
DESCRIPTION:: Herbaceous bi-annual plant if cultivated, perennial if spontaneous.
TRUNK: Parallel to the ground with robust tap-roots. Produces a clump of leaves in first year and a straight, green, stronger stem, almost circular and branched in the second. Strongly perfumed and edible.
FOLIAGE: Flat, completely glabrous shiny leaves with long grooved stalks.
FLOWERS: Ten or fifteen small, whitish-green flowers grouped within a five petalled corolla. Flowers from May to June after second year.
FRUIT:Two small grey-brown toxic achene.
HABITAT:: Originally from north Africa and Asia Minor. Of the five or six types available, the Romans used Petroselitium for culinary usage. It is an occasionally spontaneous bi-annual plant.
CULTIVATION:: EXPOSITION: Prefers fresh, sunny or half-shady places. Shelter from frost in winter with plastic sheeting. Grows well in rich fertile, well-drained, humid soil.
REPRODUCTION: Growth is slow in spring or late summer,depending on humidity. Leave seeds to soak overninght in hot water for quicker germination and fill hole with boiling water before sowing or grow seed in vase at a constant temperature of 210 c.
GROWTH: Avoid transplanting, protect from cold and thin out. Water well during germination.
HARVEST: Pick leaves and stems from spring until autumn. Avoid trimming, water to stimuate the prodction of new leaves. Mature seeds can be harvested after the second year.
STORAGE:Can be used dried,frozen or fresh. Chop or grate raw roots and cook, freeze or dry. Leave seeds to dry in the sun.
USAGE:: BEAUTY : Used as a tonic in scalp care and skin purifier. Calms eye irritations and refreshes breath when chewed.
HEALTH: Leaves help digestion, whilst roots aid renal problems in general, work as a light laxative and regulate the menstral cycle. Apply the juice and pulp to inflammation, to calm insect bites, for contusions and sprains. Mixed with oil and salt it calms toothache and earache when applied to the painful area. Can stop the flow of milk when breastfeeding if there is no inflammation.
MYTHS AND LEGENDS :: The aroma of this herbs changes with cooking so it is best to add fresh to maintain its rich content of the vitamins A,B1,B2 and C. Do not pick wild. Parsley closely resembles a poisonous plant known as Hemlock.It is also toxic if ingested in large quantities. Superstitions and beliefs have often influenced the usage of this herb.Used by the Greeks in medicines, it was later associated with Archemoro, the herald of death and was woven into the wreaths awarded to the winners of the Isthmus Games and used to decorate the tombs and herbaceous borders.According to Homer parsley was also given to the horses of Arcei. The Romans used it in cooking, in wreathes and to eliminate intoxication and bad food smells.