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| Chaerophyllum bulbosum | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Apiales |
| Family: | Apiaceae |
| Genus: | Chaerophyllum |
| Species: | C. bulbosum |
| Binomial name | |
| Chaerophyllum bulbosum | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
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Chaerophyllum bulbosum is a species of flowering plant from thecarrot family and known by several common names, includingturnip-rootedchervil,tuberous-rooted chervil,bulbous chervil, andparsnip chervil.[2] It is native to Europe andWestern Asia. It was a popular vegetable in the 19th century.
This is a tall annual herb with fringelike divided leaves and largeumbels of white flowers. The plant is cultivated on a small scale in parts of Europe for the edible tubers, which look like a dark graycarrot with yellowish-white flesh. After the harvest they are stored for a few months under cold conditions. During storage, sugar content increases throughhydrolysis ofstarch byamylases.[3]
Chaerophyllum bulbosum is a biennial plant. In the first year, itsrosette ofleaves produces large amounts of starch, which are stored in thetaproot to provide energy for the plant to flower in the second year. In the second year, it grows up to a height of 70 cm to > 2 m.[4]
The stem is smooth with nodes at intervals. It is hairy around the base just above the ground and may show scattered red spots. Additionally, the lower stem is often blue-rimmed.
Subsequent leaves arealternate (with a single leaf attached to a node),spirally arranged, andpinnatelycompound, with leaf bases sheathing the stem. As the plant grows, the bases of the seed leaves, near the taproot, are pushed apart. The stem, located just above the ground, is compressed and theinternodes are not distinct. When the seed stalk elongates for flowering, the tip of the stem narrows and becomes pointed, and the stem extends upward to become a highly branchedinflorescence.
Characteristic of anApiaceae plant,Chaerophyllum bulbosum individuals produce 10 - 200umbels. A total of 1,000 - 36,000flowers are produced per plant. The flowers areprotandrous. The styles only elongate after pollen is shed, which prevents selfing almost completely under wild, optimal pollination conditions.Chaerophyllum bulbosum is anandromonoecious plant, which means that thehermaphrodite and male flowers occur on the same plant. Thesex ratio between functionally male and hermaphrodite flowers is about 80% to 20%.[4]
Native, wild populations are distributed in Europe fromUkraine to France and fromSweden toItaly. InFrance andGermany, wild populations can be found in the Rhine and the Weser River basins. It can also be found in Western and central Asia as inTurkey and Caucasus. In the wild, tuberous-rooted chervil grows in dense populations, mainly along river banks. Seeds are dispersed byhydrochory.[5]
The plant has been grown since the Middle Ages but only survived as a garden crop in France without any named varieties. However, the first named cultivar in modern times seems to have been developed in France, named "Altan" (1986), followed by new cultivars "Véga" and "M4.10." The new varieties are mainly characterized by low seed embryo dormancy.[6][7]
It is otherwise used in cuisine for flavoring or cooked like other root vegetables. Much of the flavor comes from the skin of the tuber.[8][9] The aroma intensifies the longer the plant is stored. Eaten raw, the taste is somewhat sharp like radish, but the cooked tuber gives a subtle taste ofpotatoes andchestnuts with a slightly pungent taste ofcelery andparsnip.[10]C. bulbosum roots are high in fiber and have the same starchy quality as potatoes. They contain vitamins B and C and mineral salts.[8]
Tuberous-rooted chervil (Chaerophyllum bulbosum) is native to middle- and south-eastern-Europe.[6] During the 1580s, tubers of tuberous-rooted chervil were found at the local market inWien. In 1846, the tubers arrived in France.[11] 16 years later, the tubers became even more prominent due toPhytophthora infestans,late blight of potatoes, and had been increasingly cultivated as a substitute for potatoes. At the end of the 20th century breeding programs focused on this alternative crop mainly due to its delicate flavor. Through breeding achievements of French scientists, this alternative crop gained agricultural importance in regions likeLoire Valley (France) and the north ofBrittany.[6][12]
The cultivation is similar tocarrots andparsnips. An adequate site for cultivation is characterized by light and fertile soils.[13] The soil should be moderately moist. Cultivation period is from 9 up to 10 months.[14] The seeds require exposure to cold temperatures (vernalization) to breakdormancy in spring. The crop cultivation starts therefore in the autumn. The dormancy ends with at least 8 weeks of continuous humidity and temperatures below 5 °C. Afterstratification, germination is at optimum with a temperature range between 5 and 10 °C. At temperatures above 25 to 30 °C significant germination inhibition occurs.[15] Sowing is done directly, without any seedling cultivation, from September to November. Distance between rows is usually from 20 up to 25 cm with a distance of 4 to 6 cm between seeds.[16] In the first year of growth, after sprouting in spring, the tuber develops with a leaf rosette just above ground.Voles are a common pest for this crop in the field.[17]
Harvest
Root maturity is reached when leaves turn yellow in June. The main harvest time starts in July and lasts until September. Due to the requirement of a dormancy period, it is almost mandatory to sow the seeds directly after harvest for the upcoming season. Because of this, and due to the low yield and poor germination of the seeds,Chaerophyllum bulbosum has hardly spread in commercial cultivation.[16]
Propagation
Sexual propagation through saving seeds, after harvest of the roots, is the main method of propagation. The seeds are short-lived, which means that the seeds lose theirvitality easily (especially in dry seed packets); therefore, fresh seeds should be used every year. Keeping the seeds in cool and slightly damp sand might help sustain their vitality.[9]
Pollinators forChaerophyllum bulbosum includesflies andbeetles.[17]
Diseases
Similar diseases as for carrots and parsnip and other Apiaceae can occur for tuberous-rooted chervil. These are mainly thecarrot fly, storage decay and root aphids. Furthermore, it can be host for otheraphids,erysiphe heraclei orcelery mosaic virus.[18]
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