Lovage

Appearance

Lovage is an erect, herbaceous, perennial plant growing to 1.8–2.5 m tall, with a basal rosette of leaves and stems with further leaves, the flowers being produced in umbels at the top of the stems. The stems and leaves are shiny glabrous green to yellow-green. The larger basal leaves are up to 70 cm long, tripinnate, with broad triangular to rhomboidal, acutely pointed leaflets with a few marginal teeth; the stem leaves are smaller, and less divided with few leaflets. The flowers are yellow to greenish-yellow, 2–3 mm diameter, produced in globose umbels up to 10–15 cm diameter; flowering is in late spring. The fruit is a dry two-parted schizocarp 4–7 mm long, mature in autumn.

Naming

The name 'lovage' is from "love-ache", ''ache'' being a medieval name for parsley; this is a folk-etymological corruption of the older French name ''levesche'', from late Latin ''levisticum'', in turn thought to be a corruption of the earlier Latin ''ligusticum'', "of Liguria" , where the herb was grown extensively. In modern botanical usage, both Latin forms are now used, for different, but closely related genera, with ''Levisticum'' for lovage, and ''Ligusticum'' for Scots lovage, a similar species from northern Europe, and related species. In Germany and Holland, one of the common names of lovage is ''Maggikraut'' or ''Maggiplant'' because the plant's taste is reminiscent of Maggi soup seasoning. Italian ''levistico'', French ''livèche'', Romanian ''leuştean'', Hungarian ''lestyán'', Russian любисток ''lyubistok'', etc. In Bulgaria, it is known as девесил ''deveseel''. The Czech name is ''libeček'', and the Polish name is ''lubczyk'', both meaning 'love herb'. The name in Swedish is ''libbsticka''. The official German name is ''Liebstöckel'', literally 'love sticklet'.. The Croatian name for this plant is ljupčac or vegeta .

Distribution

The exact native range is disputed; some sources cite it as native to much of Europe and southwestern Asia, others from only the eastern Mediterranean region in southeastern Europe and southwestern Asia, and yet others only to southwestern Asia in Iran and Afghanistan, citing European populations as naturalised. It has been long cultivated in Europe, the leaves being used as a herb, the roots as a vegetable, and the seeds as a spice, especially in southern European cuisine.

Uses

The leaves can be used in salads, or to make soup, and the roots can be eaten as a vegetable or grated for use in salads. Its flavor and smell is very similar to celery. Lovage tea can be applied to wounds as an antiseptic, or drunk to stimulate digestion. The seeds can be used as a spice, similar to fennel seeds. In the UK, an alcoholic lovage cordial is traditionally mixed with brandy in the ratio of 2:1 as a winter drink. Lovage is third in its quercetin content, behind tea and capers .

The roots, which contain a heavy, volatile oil, are used as a mild aquaretic. Lovage root contains furanocoumarins which can lead to photosensitivity.