Alexanders

This article is about the plant; for the department store see Alexander's

Alexanders
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Magnoliopsida Order: Apiales Family: Apiaceae Genus: Smyrnium Species: S. olusatrum
Binomial name
Smyrnium olusatrum L.

Alexanders is a commonly cultivated flowering plant, Smyrnium olusatrum, belonging to the family Umbelliferae. It is also known as Alisanders, Horse Parsley and Smyrnium. It was known to Theophrastus (9.1) and Pliny the Elder (N.H. 19.48). Alexanders is native to Europe, western Asia and North Africa. The flowers of this plant are yellow-green in colour and its fruits are black. It has some similarity to celery in the way it looks and in how it tastes and was once used in many dishes where it has now been replaced by celery. It was also used as a medicinal herb. In the correct conditions Alexanders will grow up to four or five feet.

References

• Herbs, Spices and Flavourings, Tom Stobart, Penguin books, 1977