The Elder Plant

Elder (Aegopodium podagraria) is a perennial plant from the flower display family (Apiaceae or Umbelliferae). The plant is regarded as a notorious weed because it creeping, underground runners (rhizomes), and is difficult to remove. A hornbeam, a natural barrier. The plant grows in shady places in hedges, gardens, roadsides or on damp soil fertilized. The stems are hollow and grooved. Elder is 60-90 cm high.


The flowers are usually white but sometimes slightly pink and have a diameter of 1 mm. There are five petals with inward curled points. Elder flowers and composed display twelve to twenty-rays and no involucre. The flowering period is from May to August.


Elder wearing a ovoid, ribbed embryo of 4 mm long, whose permanent styles beaten back and the ribs protrude very little. The fruit is a two-part split fruit, the round part but fruits contain one seed.


The leaves are ternate top and bottom and have a binary bellied sheath.


Elder is edible, the leaves are prepared like spinach. Dried parsley to taste them.




Source: http://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zevenblad

See also: International Flower Delivery, Florist