Angelica

Angelica is a genus of about 50 species of tall biennial and perennial herbs in the family Apiaceae, native to temperate and subarctic regions of the Northern Hemisphere, reaching as far North as Iceland and Lapland. They grow to 1-3 m tall, with large bipinnate leaves and large compound umbels of white or greenish-white flowers.

Species

• Angelica ampla - Giant Angelica
• Angelica archangelica - Garden Angelica, Archangel, Angelique
• Angelica arguta - Lyall's Angelica
• Angelica atropurpurea - Purplestem Angelica, Alexanders
• Angelica breweri - Brewer's Angelica
• Angelica californica - California Angelica
• Angelica callii - Call's Angelica
• Angelica canbyi - Canby's Angelica
• Angelica cartilaginomarginata
• Angelica dahurica - bai zhi in Chinese
• Angelica dawsonii - Dawson's Angelica
• Angelica dentata - Coastalplain Angelica
• Angelica genuflexa - Kneeling Angelica
• Angelica gigas - Cham dangwi in Korean
• Angelica glabra - synonym for Angelica dahurica
• Angelica grayi - Gray's Angelica
• Angelica hendersonii - Henderson's Angelica
• Angelica keiskei -- Ashitaba in Japanese
• Angelica kingii - King's Angelica
• Angelica lineariloba - Poison Angelica
• Angelica lucida - Seacoast Angelica
• Angelica pachyacarpa
• Angelica palustris
• Angelica pinnata - Small-leaf Angelica
• Angelica pubescens
• Angelica roseana - Rose Angelica
• Angelica sinensis - Dong quai
• Angelica scabrida - Charleston Mountain Angelica
• Angelica sylvestris - Wild Angelica
• Angelica tomentosa - Woolly Angelica
• Angelica triquinata - Filmy Angelica
• Angelica venosa - Hairy Angelica
• Angelica wheeleri - Utah Angelica

Cultivation and uses

Some varieties are grown as flavoring agents or for their medicinal properties. The most notable of these is Garden Angelica (A. archangelica), which is commonly known simply as angelica. Natives of Lapland use the fleshy roots as food and the stalks as medicine. Crystallized strips of young angelica stems and midribs are green in colour and are sold as decorative and flavoursome cake decoration material, but may also be enjoyed on their own. The roots and seeds are sometimes used to flavor gin and Chartreuse.

Seacoast Angelica (A. lucida) has been eaten as a wild version of celery.

A. sylvestris and some other species are eaten by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species including Bordered Pug, Grey Pug, Lime-speck Pug and the V-Pug.

A. dawsonii was used by several first nations in North America for ritual purposes.

A. atropurpurea is found in North America from Newfoundland west to Wisconsin and south to Maryland, and was smoked by Missouri tribes for colds and respiratory ailments. This species is very similar in appearance to the poisonous water hemlock.