the umbelliferae family
What a wonderful sight in summer to see the verdant green hedgerows bursting with wildflowers, packed with the creamy white heads of the cow parsley at the point of busting into summer white, also the much smaller hedge parsley with its fading heads all whitely draped in lacy tatters. However, many of our precious wildflowers are declining due to the deposits of nitrates from fertilisers which are encouraging coarser species like nettles, cleavers, woodruff, bracken and horsetail to grow more vigorously at the expense of the more delicate ones.
Where nettles and wild grasses combine with the hedge parsley to make a miniature jungle, the white throat (nettle creeper) finds a desirable nesting place. Its cup shaped nest is woven between the stems of grasses and nettles low to the ground where it rears its young on the plentiful supply of live food such as caterpillars and aphids. Nettles are the food supply for the developing caterpillars of the beautiful Peacock, small tortoiseshell and Cabbage White Butterflies; these then become a steady food supply for a vast array of other soft bills rearing their ever hungry nests of chicks. The umbellifers attract many flying insects because of their flat open structure of umbels which are connected by spokes to the parent plant making it easily accessible to all insect life.
There are many types of umbellifer - in fact there are hundreds. They all have a straight hollow stem which enables many insects to over winter inside them. Anise (Pimpinella Anisum) is an annual plant with yellow-white flowers blooming in July. It resembles celery and is grown mainly for its seed, which is used in cakes, breads, liqueurs and cordials, and is known for its sweet liquorice flavouring. The taller Angelica, with its tall green stems, can be candied and used as a decoration for cakes and trifles. However, Hemlock, with its pretty flower heads in parsley-like profusion, purple spots on its stem, and mousey odour, is a most poisonous and dangerous plant. It thrives in damp, moist areas and can grow to the height of a man. Care should be taken to avoid this plant as the drug from the hemlock was used to poison Socrates.
The umbellifer is a most wonderful theatrical plant. Cow parsley, which is a member of the carrot family and also known as Queen Anne’s lace, is a popular and much loved food plant of horses and ponies. Its beautiful flowers attract all manner of pollinating insects such as bees, hoverflies, wasps, butterflies, ladybirds, beetles and moths. The much larger giant hog weed’s leaves are a favourite of pigs. Herbs such as lovage, fennel, dill and parsley are all members of the umbellifer family and make a wonderful addition to your garden. However, be careful where you place the fennel as this plant can grow five to eight feet in height, as can Angelica. Their uses are vast, and include flavourings for sauces, salads, soups, herbal infusions (tea), cosmetics, herbal medicines and can also be used to ward off pests and diseases. Asafoetida is a colossal plant of the umbellifer family which originates from Afghanistan and is grown for the cosmetic and perfume industry; it is also used in cooking in many countries and is more commonly known as ‘Devil’s Dung’ due to its strong unpleasant odour. Dogs dislike the smell immensely.
If you wish to grow these plants in your garden, please don’t take seeds from the wild. You can purchase them from your local seed merchant, garden centre or from specialist herb nurseries.
From giant hog weed to the delicate fronds of hedge parsley, herbalists, engineers, bridge builders and lace makers, to the design of the humble umbrella, their products and designs can all be attributed to the structure of the umbellifer.
These wonderful plants can be enjoyed throughout all seasons. For on an autumn morning you can see the translucent wisps of the spider’s webs draped amongst the umbellifers with the dewdrops sparkling in the sun until the storm clouds come and have their way. When the first frosts come steaming your breath into clouds you can see the statuesque form of the hog weed looming out of the mist with their spokes stiffened and clothed in frost. I find it all so delightful.
