Aegopodium podagraria

Giersch ( Aegopodium podagraria )

The Giersch ( Aegopodium podagraria ) is a species of the genus Aegopodium in the carrot family ( Apiaceae ). It is the only occurring in Europe Aegopodium type. The botanical genus name is derived from the Greek Aegopodium αἴγειος = aigeos ( for " goat " ) and Greek πούς - ποδός = pous - podos for foot and refers to the shape of the leaves, reminiscent of a Ziegenfuß. The specific epithet podagraria indicates that this plant for centuries in folk medicine for the relief of pain associated with rheumatism and gout ( gout ) was used.

Giersch applies to gardening as a troublesome " weed "; it spreads rampantly and can only be combated difficult because of its underground stems. On the other hand Giersch a great tasting wild vegetables.

• 5.1 Traditional medicinal plant
• 5.2 nutrition

• 7.1 Notes and references

Description

Vegetative characteristics

The Giersch grows as a perennial herbaceous plant, reaching heights of growth from 30 to 100 centimeters. Since the Giersch springs from a highly proliferating rhizome, the spurs can form colonies. The bare stem is characteristic angular - grooved.

The alternate on the stem arranged leaves are divided into petiole and leaf blade. The leaf blade is pinnately twice ternate or twice. The leaflets are ovate -oblong and have a serrated edge. The 1st order pinnae are often only two columns.

Generative features

The doppeldoldige inflorescence is flat and 12 - to 25 -beam. It lacks both bracts and the Hüllchenblätter. The inconspicuous white flowers are hermaphroditic and fünfzählig. The flowering period extends usually from June to July.

The wingless caraway similar, two-piece split fruit, also called Doppelachäne, is egg-shaped with a length of 3 to 4 millimeters.

Ecology

The Giersch is a Hemikryptophyt. With underground runners, individual plants spread within a few years over large areas, for example in parks and gardens. Vegetative propagation is dominant, it is done by the well and deep creeping, white, brittle, underground runners, reach a minimum length of 20 cm and a diameter of 2 mm. Therefore, the Giersch is a dreaded weed the gardens, and in this case, a veritable " weed ".

The near-ground blades outlast mild winters; the Giersch is thus partially evergreen.

Ecologically flowers is " nectar leading disk flowers from Heracleum type ".

Special dispersal mechanisms are not known; but it takes place unintentional spread by humans.

Occurrence

The Giersch is widespread in most of Europe and the temperate - continental areas of the Eurasian deciduous forest belt. In North America, it was introduced by humans. He loves nitrogen-rich soils and often occurs in gardens, shady and humid thickets and forests.

Combat

Susanne Wiborg writes in an article ( "time" n 24, 2005 ): " in the fight against Giersch demonstrates the futility of human endeavor ." Its elimination is only possible through multi-year cover or deep -reaching sieving of the soil. Giersch is the widely used herbicide glyphosate difficult to inadequate combat.

Giersch can be weakened by regular removal of leaves until he dies. This is tedious and usually takes many years. Addition, even if the roots are chopped, the plant regenerates mostly fast. The area affected by Giersch can be light-tight cover. After about two years that lie under the cover plants have died - but not dormant seeds. Planting the affected area with potatoes can suppress the ground elder, since it take the faster growing potato plants light and nutrients. Since about 2009 special herbicides are available for Giersch for use in the home and small garden. Conventional, approved for home and small gardens herbicides are virtually ineffective against Giersch, as they do not destroy the entire root system.

Use

In the Middle Ages, but also in more recent times Giersch was specially grown both as a vegetable and as a medicinal plant. Medieval sources show that he was a " natural" crop in the monastery and farm gardens.

Traditional medicinal plant

The trivial name Podagrakraut or Zipperleinskraut indicates that Giersch is a traditional remedy for gout. For centuries was Giersch in patients who suffered from gout or rheumatism, as a remedy. He should treat rheumatism, gout and arthritis, as well as antispasmodic, detoxifying and blood purifying act. Since no ingredients have been found which have demonstrated efficacy for these indications, the Giersch is usually no longer listed in the new pharmacopoeias.

Nutrition

Giersch can be prepared as salad or vegetables and recalls in smell and taste of spinach and a bit of parsley. It contains a lot of potassium, vitamin C, carotene and iron.

Since Giersch unlike many other vegetables for a long time in the year is available and only low demands on soil, water and light supply is, he secured for example during the World Wars many people's vitamin intake. When gathering, make sure to avoid confusion with inedible and even poisonous species of umbelliferous plants ( for example, hemlock or Breitblättriger Merk).

As a salad are - as with other wild plants - especially the very young, barely unfolded leaves. The green sheets can also be added in spreads, soups. If the plant is older, the leaves are too coarse for a tasty salad. They are then but still for cooking, for example, for casseroles or as a tea. The leaves are then boiled or steamed comparable to spinach. The Giersch stems but can taste bitter and are better removed in doubt before cooking.

Guinea pigs and rabbits eat the Giersch very much, so that it can also serve as a small animal food.

Trivial names

Trivial names for Giersch include: Trillium, Geißfuß, Horny Goat Weed, Schettele, Giersch fence, tree drip. Because the leaves of the elderberry bush ( elder ) are similar, it is also called Wiesholler.

Furthermore, the following designations are, or were, in part only regionally, use: arable Holler (Carinthia ), Erdholler or Wilder Holler (Styria ), Wild Angelica (Ulm), Angelken (North Dithmar ), Tree Tropfe ( Aargau, Bern, Zurich ), Baumtröpfle ( Aargau, Bern, Zurich ), Dreifuss ( Daun, Eifel), Small wild angelica, Fearkenfaite ( in the meaning of " pig feet " ) ( Iserlohn ), Gaese ( County of Mark ), Bachelorette ( County of Mark ), Garta ( Iborig, St. Gallen), Geersch ( Pomerania ), Geerseln ( lower Weser ), Geesche (Braunschweig), Geesel ( lower Weser ), Geeske ( Ostfriesland), Geisfüssel, Geisfuss, Gere (mountain ), Gerhard herb Gerisch (Mark Brandenburg), Gersse, Gerzel (Altmark ) Gifts (Mecklenburg), Geseln (Göttingen), Gezeln (Göttingen), Geszenkielm (Mars castle), Gierisch (Silesia ), Gier (Mecklenburg), Gierts (Mecklenburg), Giersa, Gierschke, greed Sick, Giersig (Silesia ), Giesseln ( lower Weser ), Girsch (Ulm), Girschke, Gösch (Lübeck, Mecklenburg ), Gries Bart (Silesia ), Gurisch (Leipzig), Gysch, Härsch (Ostfriesland ), hare esti -twelfths (Memmingen ), hare shear dumplings ( Augsburg), Heerke ( lower Weser ), Heersch ( Dithmar, Oldenburg ), Herske ( Ostfriesland), Hinfuss (Ulm), trace, Hirs (Mecklenburg), Jesche ( Faller life ), Jessel, Jorisquek (Hamburg), Jörsquek (Holstein), Jörs (Holstein, Lübeck ), Jösk (Mecklenburg ), Jürs (Mecklenburg), Krafues (Carinthia ), May- herb ( Bern ), Negenstärke, Nebensterke, Podagramskraut, Rutzitzke ( Lower), Schnäggachrut (St. Gallen), Strenzel, water cabbage (Carinthia ), Wetscherlewetsch, Witscherlenwertsch (Ulm), Wuchchrut ( Appenzell, Upper Rhine Valley ), Horny Goat Weed (Leipzig), Zipperleinskraut, Zipperlikraut (Bern).

Swell

• Heinz Ellenberg: vegetation of Central Europe and the Alps, Stuttgart 1996, ISBN 3-8001-3430-6.
• Manfred A. Fischer, Karl Oswald, Wolfgang Adler: Exkursionsflora for Austria, Liechtenstein and South Tyrol. 3rd revised edition. Province of Upper Austria, Biology Centre of the Upper Austrian State Museums, Linz 2008, ISBN 978-3-85474-187-9.
• Elisabeth Mayer: wild fruits, wild vegetables, wild herbs, Stocker, 2001, ISBN 3-7020-0835-7, page 38-40. .

• Giersch. In: FloraWeb.de. ( Description section )