Ligusticum scoticum; The Scots Lovage is a perennial, relatively tall herbal species. They can grow up to about 60cm. Vigorous plants have bush-like appearances.
- The stems are heavily furrowed, very often red-colored. The leaf sheaths are also more or less red. The leaves are quite characteristic: they are tri-parted, each first order is again split in three parts (the leaflets). As such they resemble the Ground Elder (Aegopodium podagraria), the latter though have their lateral first order segments usually split in two parts (leaflets). Also the shape of the leaflets are different (rather pointed in the Ground Elder, not so in the Scots Lovage).
- Their inflorescences are typical Apiaceae-like. The umbels have rather linear bracts at their base.
- It is a natural coastal species on Iceland, but it is not very common. It has little resistance to grazing and birds at breeding sites.
- It is a member of the Carrot family ( Apiaceae formerly known as Umbelliferae). The Icelandic name of this species is Sæhvönn.
FLORA OF ICELAND elements: Ligusticum scoticum, Scots Lovage, Sæhvönn
A brief introduction to Iceland plants
Text & Photographs by Dick Vuijk
- unless stated otherwise
Text & Photographs by Dick Vuijk
- unless stated otherwise
Other members of the Carrot/Parsley and Ivy families
Other members of the Carrot/Parsley and Ivy families