Angelica sylvestris
{{Short description|Species of flowering plant}}
{{Italic title}}
{{Speciesbox
|name = Wild angelica
|image = Illustration Angelica silvestris0.jpg
|status = LC
|status_system = IUCN3.1
|taxon= Angelica sylvestris
|authority = L.
}}
Angelica sylvestris or wild angelica is a species of flowering plant, native to Europe and central Asia. An annual or short-lived perennial growing to a maximum of {{convert|2.5|m|ft|abbr=on}}, it has erect purplish stems and rounded umbels of minuscule white or pale pink flowers in late summer.{{cite web |url= http://www.nbisc.ca/species/angelicasylvestris.html |title=Woodland Angelica - Angelica sylvestris |website= nbisc.ca| publisher= New Brunswick Invasive Species Council |access-date=4 August 2011 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110917065915/http://www.nbisc.ca/Species/Angelicasylvestris.html |archive-date=17 September 2011 |url-status=dead }}{{cite book
| editor-last = Brickell
| editor-first = Christopher
| title = The Royal Horticultural Society A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants
| year = 2008
| publisher = Dorling Kindersley
| location = UK
| isbn = 9781405332965}}
Habitat and ecology
The Latin specific epithet sylvestris means "growing in woodland",{{cite book |last=Harrison |first=Lorraine |title=RHS Latin for Gardeners |year=2012 |publisher=Mitchell Beazley |location=UK |isbn=978-1845337315 }} but it tolerates a range of conditions, including fields, hedgerows, open woods, marshes, and fens. It grows in light (sandy), medium (loamy), and heavy (clay) soils.
It has recently been determined to be an invasive weed in New Brunswick and Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, Canada. "According to the New Brunswick Invasive Species Council, unless this species is controlled, woodland angelica could spread throughout Canada, overwhelming other vegetation."{{cite news| url= http://www.natureconservancy.ca/site/News2?page%3DNewsArticle%26id%3D13554%26news_iv_ctrl%3D0%26abbr%3Dat_ncc_ |title=Invasive species going wild in the Saint John River Valley |website= natureconservancy.ca | publisher= |access-date=August 4, 2011 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110927054751/http://www.natureconservancy.ca/site/News2?page=NewsArticle&id=13554&news_iv_ctrl=0&abbr=at_ncc_ |archive-date= September 27, 2011 |url-status=dead }} The flowers are visited by a wide array of insects, are thus characterised by a generalised pollination system.{{cite journal|doi=10.1111/plb.12328|title=Competition for pollinators and intra-communal spectral dissimilarity of flowers |journal=Plant Biology|year=2015|last1=Van Der Kooi|first1=C. J.|last2=Pen|first2=I.|last3=Staal|first3=M.|last4=Stavenga|first4=D. G.| last5= Elzenga| first5=J. T. M.| display-authors= 3| url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/273158762|pmid=25754608|volume=18|issue=1|pages=56–62}}
Adult wasps of Dolichovespula norwegica are known to feed off the nectar provided by A. sylvestris.{{cite web |url= http://www.commanster.eu/commanster/Insects/Bees/SuBees/Dolichovespula.norwegica.html |title=Dolichovespula norwegica |website= commanster.eu |publisher= Ecology of Commanster |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20141006084814/http://www.commanster.eu/commanster/Insects/Bees/SuBees/Dolichovespula.norwegica.html |archive-date=2014-10-06 |url-status=dead }}
Cultivation and uses
A. sylvestris is cultivated in gardens. The cultivar 'Ebony', with pink flowers, has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.{{cite web | url= https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/327488/i-Angelica-sylvestris-i-Ebony/Details |title = Angelica sylvestris 'Ebony' |website= rhs.org.uk | publisher = Royal Horticultural Society | access-date=12 January 2018}}
The vegetable was eaten until the 20th century. The plant can be stored. The stem was eaten fresh, and the leaves could be boiled to a stew for storage or cooked with milk. The plant has also been used for dyeing.{{citation needed|date=November 2020}}
Gallery
Gewone engwortel R0012880 Plant.JPG|Entire plant
Gewone engelwortel R0012884 blad.JPG|Lower leaf
Gewone engelwortel R0012890 stengel.JPG|Leaf sheath on stem
Angelica sylvestris 2.jpg|Flowering umbel
Angelica sylvestris flowers - Keila.jpg|Flowers
Wild angelica seeds - Flickr - S. Rae.jpg|Developing fruits (seeds)