Smallage, Wild celery
Apium graveolens

Family: Apiaceae

What it is like

A herb that grows over 2 years. It has a strong smell. It grows 30-100 cm high and spreads 15-30 cm wide. The root is bulbous and fleshy. The stems have strong grooves. The leaves are finely divided. They are 50 cm long. The flowers are in small flat heads. They are green-white. The seeds are small and grey-brown. The seeds have ridges on them.

Where it is found

A Mediterranean plant. It is hardy to frost. It can grow in salty soil. It is often in poorly drained waterlogged soil. It grows below 2,750 m above sea level. It can grow in arid places. In Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Afghanistan, Africa, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Asia, Australia, Austria, Azores, Bahrain, Balkans, Bangladesh, Belgium, Botswana, Brazil, Britain, Bulgaria, Cameroon, Canada, Canary Is., Cape Verde, Caucasus, Central America, Central Asia, Chile, China, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Crete, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, East Africa, Easter Island, Ecuador, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Europe, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Haiti, Hungary, India, Indochina, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Ivory Coast, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libya, Lithuania, Macedonia, Mediterranean (country/location of origin), Mexico, Middle East, Moldova, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norfolk Is., North Africa, North America, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Reunion, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Scandinavia, SE Asia, Sicily, Sinai, Slovakia, Slovenia, Socotra, South Africa, Southern Africa, South America, Spain, St Helena, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Thailand, Trinidad-Tobagom Tunisia, Turkey, Türkiye, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, USA, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, West Africa, West Indies, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia

How it is used for food

Caution: It is bitter and toxic in large amounts. The seeds are used in small amounts to flavour soups and stews. The leaves are used as a vegetable. They are used in soups and stews.

Edible parts

Seeds, leaves, flowers, vegetable, roots, shoots

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Accia sarvaggi, Accio selvagge, Apio, Dania jangli, Kereviz, Krafs barri, Selleri, Surkhai

Synonyms

Carum graveolens (L.) Koso-Pol.; Celeri graveolens (L.) Britton; and several others