bishop's weed

Ground-elder
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
(unranked):	Asterids
Order:	Apiales
Family:	Apiaceae
Genus:	Aegopodium
Species:	A. podagraria
Binomial name
Aegopodium podagraria L.

The ground-elder (Aegopodium podagraria) is in the carrot family (Apiaceae) that grows in shady places. It is sometimes also cited as "ground elder", though this format invites confusion by suggesting it is a species of elder (Sambucus), an unrelated genus. It is also known as herb gerard, bishop's weed, goutweed, and snow-in-the-mountain. It is the type species of the genus Aegopodium.

Edible Uses

The tender leaves have been used as a spring leaf vegetable, much as spinach was used. It has also been used to treat gout and arthritis. The plant is said to have been introduced into England by the Romans as a food plant and into Northern Europe by monks. It is best picked from when it appears (as early as February in the UK) through to just before it flowers (May to June). If it is picked after this point it takes on an unusual taste and a laxative effect. However you can stop the plant from flowering by pinching out the flowers, ensuring that the plant remains edible if used more sparingly as a pot herb.^[1]see edible plants

Invasive Habit

In some areas, this plant is considered among the worst of weeds, as it readily spreads over large areas of ground by underground rhizomes. It is extremely invasive, and crowds out native species. The smallest piece of rhizome left in the ground will quickly form a sturdy new plant, followed by many more.

If a small plant finds its way into an ornamental perennial flower garden it will spread with vigor, resist all attempts at eradication, and make continued ornamental gardening there very difficult.

Ornamental Use

A variegated form is grown as an ornamental plant, though with the advice to keep it isolated.

Importance To Wildlife

It is used as a food plant by the larvae of some species of Lepidoptera including dot moth, grey dagger and grey pug.

Images

Variegated ground-elder in flower	Ground-elder on the wayside	A single umbel	Leaves
Stem profile - there is no toxic look-alike with a triangular profile.	Aegopodium podagraria.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Aegopodium podagraria

Herbal information

• Goutweed (Aegopodium podagraria) Mrs. Grieve's "A Modern Herbal" at Botanical.com

Medicinal information

• Ground Elder Aegopodium Podagraria Online Herb Guide

General information and control measures

• Plant Conservation Alliance, Alien Plant Working Group: Goutweed (US Specific)

Footnotes