Snake's bed
Cnidium monnieri

Family: Apiaceae

What it is like

A herb. It grows each year from seed. It grows 10-60 cm tall. It has a thin taproot. There is one stem. The lower leaf stalks are 3-8 cm long. The leaves are oval and 3-8 cm long by 2-5 cm wide. There are leaflets along the stalk. These can be divided. The flowers are in groups 2-3 cm across. The fruit are oval and 2-3 mm long by 1-2 mm wide.

Where it is found

It is a temperate plant. It grows on the edge of fields and in grassland.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, China, Europe, India, Indochina, Korea, Laos, Mongolia, North America, Russia, SE Asia, Siberia, Vietnam

How it is used for food

The shoots and leaves are eaten. It is occasionally used as a flavouring or spice.

It is cultivated.

Edible parts

Fruit - flavouring, shoots, leaves flavouring

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Gieng sang, She ch'uang tzu, She Chuang Zi, Xa-sang

Synonyms

Cnidium confertum Moench; Cnidium microcarpum Turcz. ex Steud.; Cnidium mongolicum H. Wolff; Ligusticopsis mongolica (H. Wolff) Leute; Ligusticum monnieri Calest.; Selinum monnieri L.; Seseli daucifolium C.B.Clarke; and others Ligusticum mongolicum (H. Wolff) Leute; Pinasgelon monnieri (L.) Raf.;