Skirret, Chervin
Sium sisarum

Family: Apiaceae

What it is like

A herb. It takes 2 years to complete its life cycle but is normally grown as an annual. Plants grow 60 cm to 1 m high. It forms sweet, fleshy grey-white tubers. They are clustered in bunches around the crown. The leaves are divided like parsnip leaves. They are pale green. The flowers are white.

Where it is found

It suits cool temperate climates. It often grows in ditches and marshes. They are best suited to light sandy moist soil. It suits hardiness zones 5-9. In Hobart Botanical Gardens.

Countries/locations it is found in

Armenia, Asia, Australia, Azerbaijan, Balkans, Britain (country/location of origin), Bulgaria, Caucasus, Central Asia, China, Dagestan, Denmark, Europe, France, Germany, Hungary, Iran, Iraq, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Middle East, Moldova, Netherlands, North America, Romania, Russia, Siberia, Spain, Tajikistan, Tasmania, Turkey, Türkiye, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, USA

How it is used for food

The small, sweet, fleshy roots are eaten. They are boiled and butter added. They are also used in soups and stews. They are normally scraped rather than peeled and adding lemon juice to prevent discoloration. The young leaves and shoots can be blanched and eaten as a salad. They are also cooked in stews. They are sometimes used as a coffee substitute.

It is a commercially cultivated vegetable.

Edible parts

Root, leaves, vegetable

How it is grown

They can be grown from seed or by dividing the clump of roots. For seed collection plants need to be left to grow on for a second year.

Its other names

Local names

Bilmehink, Crummack, Girola, Mukago-ninjin, Schervola, Sokerot, Tirvas, Vinik, Vinye

Synonyms

Apium sisarum (L.) Calest.; Berula lancifolia Besser; Carum sisarum (L.) Baill.; Pimpinella sisarum (L.) Jess.; Seseli sisarum (L.) Crantz; Sisarum sisaroideum (DC.) Schischk, ex Krylov; Sium lancifolium M. Bieb. [Illegitimate]; Sium sisaroideum DC.;