In botany, an achene is a small, dry carpel containing a single seed, the pericarp of which is closely applied but separable and which does not open when ripe. Research Achene
American wormseed (Chenopodium ambrosioides) or Mexican tea as it is also known, is a poisonous annual herb of the family Chenopodiaceae with a branched, reddish, leafy stem. The leaves are alternate and rectangular to lanceolate and coarsely toothed. The numerous small yellowish-green flowers are crowded together in small globose clusters in the leaf axils on the lateral stems. The fruit is an achene. American wormseed was introduced to Europe from tropical America during the 17th century, and acclimatized itself to some parts of Europe, but not Britain. In South America the leaves were formerly used to make an infusion of tea, but the principal use of the plant was in medicine to expel intestinal worms. Research American Wormseed
Aniseed or anise (Pimpinella anisum) is an annual herb of the family Umbelliferae, native to the eastern Mediterranean region, with an erect, branched, ribbed stem, which bears long-stalked, lobed, cordate and coarsely toothed lower leaves and finely divided, feathery, ternate or pinnate upper leaves. The flowers are small, white in colour and arranged in compound umbels. The fruit is a ribbed, roundish double achene. Aniseed was first cultivated and used as a spice by the ancient Egyptians and later by the Greeks and Romans. Research Aniseed
Common bistort (Polygonum Bistorta), adder's-wort or snakeroot, is a perennialherb of the buckwheat family, family Polygonaceae, found in Britain. It has a stout, snake-like twisted rhizome and an erect, unbranched stem. The basalovate to lanceolate leaves with undulate margins and winged petioles are arranged in a rosette. The smaller stem leaves are triangular, sessile and clasp the stem. The flowers are pink in colour, and arranged in a dense terminal spike. The fruit is a three-sided achene surrounded by a persistent perianth.
Common bistort contains a lot of tannin, which gives it astringent properties and led to its use in medicine. The young leaves can be eaten in salads or cooked like spinach and the root is edible after it has been soaked and roasted. In northern England it is commonly called Easter Giant and around Manchester it is called Patience Dock. Research Bistort
Burnet is the name of three species of perennial Rosaceous herbs. The Common or Great Burnet (Sanguisorba officinalis) is a perennialherb native to Britain and Europe where it grows in damp meadows and pastures. It has a thick branched rhizome, a basal rosette of odd-pinnate leaves with between seven and fifteen long-stalked, ovate, toothed leaflets, and an erect branched stem bearing few leaves. The flowers are small, crimson in colour and arranged in dense terminal rectangular spikes. The fruit is an achene enclosed in a four-winged receptacle.
The common salad Burnet (Sanguisorba minor) occurs in dry meadows, and bears heads of crimson flowers - the upper ones being female, while the lower are furnished with numerous drooping stamens. The prickly salad Burnet is much like the common salad burnet. Research Burnet
Burnet saxifrage (Pimpinella saxifraga) is a perennialherb of the family Umbelliferae, native to Britain and Europe, with a spindle-shaped tap root and an erect, finely ribbed and usually downy stem which is branched above. The basal leaves are odd pinnate. The stem leaves have sheath-like stalks and more divided, linear leaflets. The flowers are small, white in colour and arranged in terminal umbels. The fruit is an ovoid, compressed, double achene with five slender ribs. Research Burnet Saxifrage
Canadian fleabane (Conyza canadensis) is an annual herb of the family Compositae with an erect, glabrous or slightly hairy stem, which is much branched near the top. The leaves are slightly hairy and linear to lanceolate. The numerous bell-shaped white and yellow flowers are arranged in long terminal panicles. The fruit is a yellow downy achene.
Canadian fleabane is native to North America, and was introduced to Europe during the 17th century. Research Canadian Fleabane
Caraway (Carum carvi) is a biennial or perennialherb of the family Umbelliferae. It has a spindle-like tap root, finely divided feathery leaves which are two or three times pinnate, and erect branched furrowed stems terminated by compound umbels of white or rose-tinted, deeply notched flowers. The fruit is a rectangular, ribbed achene with two crescent-shaped seeds. Caraway grows throughout Europe and Asia in grassy, sunny locations, especially mountains up to an altitude of 2000 metres. Research Caraway
Chinese rhubarb (Rheum palmatum) is a perennialherb of the family Polyconaceae native to north-east Asia, with a thick rhizome and a basal rosette of coarsely toothed palmately divided leaves. The stem is tall, robust, hollow, finely furrowed and branched towards the top. Flowers of a reddish to greenish-white colour are borne on the stem in terminal panicles. The fruit is a triangularachene. Research Chinese Rhubarb
Coltsfoot (Tusilago farfara) is a perennialherb of the family Compositae, native to Britain and Europe, with a much-branched creeping rhizome and erect, purplish woolly and scaly stems, which bear solitary, terminal, yellow flowers in early spring. The basal leaves are long-stalked, roundish cordate with black edged teeth and white-felted below. The fruit is a smooth achene with a long white pappus. Coltsfoot contains mucilage, and is used in herbal teas for treating coughs, bronchitis, laryngitis, asthma and catarrh. Research Coltsfoot
The Probert Encyclopaedia was designed, edited and programed by
Matt and Leela Probert
Abbreviations
Research Achene
