Sium sisarum

Sugarroot ( Sium sisarum )

Sugarroot ( Sium sisarum ), also Gierlen, Görlin, sugar orchid, Süßwurzel or sugar Wish called, is a plant which belongs to the carrot family ( Apiaceae ). It is an ancient crop from Eastern Europe and Asia. The original wild form is spread from the Caucasus to Siberia. The name is derived from the root sugar sweet taste of the root.

• 4.1 Kitchen
• 4.2 Storage
• 4.3 ingredients
• 4.4 Medical Importance

Description

Sium sisarum grows as a perennial herbaceous plant. It reaches heights of growth of about 100 to 150 centimeters. There is a bunch of white thickened ( about a finger thick ) formed roots, similar but see the roots of sweet potatoes or dahlias are significantly thinner and reach a length of 15 to 20 cm. Individual even up to 30 cm. The mean root is most educated. The color of the roots is gray to white, and the flesh is white. They are cylindrical and slightly tapering. There shall be 10-15 single roots. The roots have a slightly woody fibrous core. It is hardy. The leaves are imparipinnate with three to eleven leaflets. The narrow leaflets have a serrated edge. In young plants the leaves end pointed in older round. At flowering, the plant comes in July and August. It is made only in the second year after sowing. The flowers are borne in terminal inflorescences doldigen. The small, fragrant flowers are star-shaped. The petals are white. The brown fruits are short and resemble those of carrots. Just as carrots are part of fruit from sticking together. The seed is 0.75-1 mm wide and thick and 2-2.5 mm long. The fruits are achenes.

Origin and History

Sugarroot is native to eastern Asia. Most see China as a country of origin. She was still unknown in antiquity. Jacobus Theodorus " Tabernaemontanus " Although writes in his book on herbs from 1625: "It is the Keyser Tiberius, have had as Pliny LIB.19.CAP5.28.schreibet / a such pleasure to these Rüblein to eat, that he on the Rhine every year can appoint and lead have in Italiam, then they seindt the stomach useful and good. " Also Lenz cites the same place. Here, however, it is probably a confusion with the parsnip ( Pastinaca sativa ), also a Umbelliferae, as the sugar root was not native to Germany. They arrived safely in the 15th century of the Middle Ages Russia to Europe. During the Renaissance to have been served from the Sugar root of English boards for the first time cakes and other fine dishes. For the production of sugar, the root is used. Until the mid-19th century it was still grown in Italy and Germany. For the 19th century out she disappeared from cultivation and were only grown in gardens pharmacist. It was replaced by the popularity of the potato. Today the sugar root is largely unknown. The fact that it is no longer grown is probably due to the fibrous core and the given by the shape more complex processing. In Anatolia Sugarroot is like many other wild plants specifically sold by women on so-called " women's market ". The plant has not been processed In breeding. The cultivation is now almost no longer exists. In China, Japan and Korea today, but there is significant production.

Use

Cultivation and harvesting

The culture period is 6-8 months. For the cultivation of a site is chosen with a lighter nutrient-rich soil, facilitates the Längenwächstum the roots and harvesting. Sugarroot is well adapted to Central European climate. The plant does not tolerate waterlogging. For the culture of the sugar root of the same crop rotation should be observed as for carrots because they are not well tolerated even in the replica. The plant is propagated by seeds or vegetatively by generative root sections or division of the rhizome. The seed leads due to the low genetic variability of root sugar into uniform plants in stock. Sow the seeds in March. It can take place in the fall not fresh enriched ( with manure ) soil even as it is hardy. Advantage of the autumn sowing is in the growth projection for the seed germinates very slowly. He needs to germinate about 35 days. To shorten the time of nucleation and safety, and to improve some of the seeds can be pre-swollen in water ( pre-germinated ). Thereafter, it is again gently slightly dried, so that it is säfähig ( flowable ). The row spacing for seed should be selected to 20-30 cm. The final interval in the series should be about 15 cm. Sown is somewhat denser and deep to 0.5 inch. For the seeds of 1 m² 4 g seed is required. When the plants at the 4- leaf stage, the seeds are warped ( diced) are. The plants thus gained can be planted too. Often also precultured on seedbeds and transplanted later. This is also done in the 4 - to 5 -leaf stage. Vegetative propagation leads quickly to large plants and sowing. These roots are selected which are a good shape and as large as possible, which thus improves the variety for several years growing cycle. The planting is done about 2 to 4 weeks later ( late March to early April), as sowing. The part of plants or root parts are planted deep as seed to 2 inches at the same distance. Thereafter, the culture behaves same as in sowing. Fertilization corresponds to the carrots and should be split in 2-4 doses. During the main growth, the sugar root as well as carrots, parsnips and root parsley needs a lot of water. Longer dryness of the fibrous core is increasingly developed in the root. The harvest beginning in autumn and can happen vorzu, even during the winter, as the plant is frost hardy. For home use, the roots can be wrapped in sand and stored in the basement. Only Young roots of annuals plant are useful. The mechanical harvesting is done with similar machines as are customary for chicory roots, salsify or carrots. The yield is 1-2 kg / m² .. Buzzard is 1.2-1.5 kg / m² ( 120-150 kg / Are) on. Even the goings-on in dark rooms for blowing bleached sprouts is known. Thus, the 10 to 15 cm long shoots reach 30 to 40 grams per plant.

Seed Production and propagation

Once the seeds of the cones can be brown to cut the cones to dry and dry protected. This is given from August to October. The main maturity extends from August to September. One gram of seeds contains approximately 600 grain and one liter of seeds corresponds to about 400 g The seeds are viable for three years. Seeds should only be used by plants in the second year after planting. Equally important is the removal of plants with desired root development. As breeding goals low fiber content in the root core, the largest possible diameter and length and good taste are. At best, the roots are sorted before the multiplication, stored and planted separately in the New Year. Since the plant is perennial seeds can again be harvested each year.

Diseases and Pests

There occur most diseases and pests that are present also in carrots, parsnips and parsley. Particularly mice 're taking on the sweet roots.

Use

Kitchen

Primarily, the plant is used as a root vegetable, being breeding largely preserved in the natural form. The root is in gekocht.Das water tastes sweet, aromatic with a mealy consistency. Especially the one-year roots taste better. After cooking can easily be removed the fibrous core. The leaves are used. Most preferably, the first spring sprouting leaves come for use, which are very aromatic. The roots are golden brown fried at 180 ° in the oven after it has been previously freed with the brush in the water of soil fines and then swung dried in peanut oil. Lukewarm and served with caramelized limes fillets as a starter. The leaves could be used as a mixing partner for mixed salads. From the roots and spirits can be made.

Storage

Harvested roots can be embedded in sand a few weeks store.

Ingredients

The raw roots meat contains from 4 to 8% sugar (sucrose) and a dry substance of 16%. The dry matter contains 63-65 % sucrose. The dry matter of the leaves is just under 8% and are rich in protein and sugar with 25 and 12% of dry matter. The sprouts contain more vitamins than the roots and the vitamin content is higher after production in the greenhouse. Therefore, it was formerly much cultivated, as sugar was rare and expensive. Next, the root also contains minerals and pectins.

Medical importance

• Leonhart Fuchs describes the sugar root, " Sisern ". as lovely and sweet, taste the carrots the same. " The parched seed, powdered and taken in wine is good as the Heschen ( sob ) have and Pomerania in the body. Sisern make you want to have the matrimonial works, strengthen the heart, which are useful, so very vomited. ".
• Nicholas Culpeper (1614-1645), an English physician and astrologer who writes the plant WOULD " opening, cleansing and diuretic ." The root helps the liver and strengthens digestion. And like many other Umbelliferae such as celery or Giersch has aphrodisiac properties, the sugar root.

In particular, indigenous to Central Europe and related to the sugar root type Sium latifolium was used until the 20th century as a medicinal plant.