
Edible plant - intermediate Season - spring to autumn Common names Bishop’s weed, goutweed, gout wort, snow-in-the-mountain, English masterwort, wild masterwort
Scientific name meaning: Aegopodium is a combination of the Greek Aigos/Aix for “goat”, and podo, meaning foot. The Latin word for gout is podagra, which as been applied to the species due to its use in herbal treatments
Habitat ![]() Ground Elder can be found across Europe and Asia in grassland, woodland, lawns and on grass verges, and near hedgerows. |
Overall structure ![]() A low growing plant that appear in dense mats as it spreads via abundant rhizomes. Superficially, its leaves and flowers bear some resemblance to those of the elder tree, which is where its most used common name originates. It's flower stalk is much taller that the rest of the plant. |
Leaves ![]() The leaves are variable and either trifoliate, twice trifoliate or pinnately compound. The leaflets are oval or elliptical. The lower leaflet can be almost split into secondary leaflets (pinnules) at the lower aspect, or at the upper aspect, too, or lobed rather than split. The leaves grow straight out of the ground in seemingly random formation and smell of parsley when crushed. |
Stem ![]() The cylindrical, green flower stem is hollow and striated. |
Flowers ![]() The flowers appear in May on stalks reaching 50cm. The small 1-2mm white flowers appear on compound umbels that have no bracts. Each individual flower has five petals and long stamens. |
Seeds ![]() The seeds appear from early summer and are egg-shaped with the female reproductive parts remaining. |
Possible lookalikes ![]() Could be confused with elder. However, elder is a tree and leaves appear on shoots and branches, not straight out of the ground. Elder also has no leaflet lobing or splitting and its leaves smell unpleasant. Dog's mercury (Mercurialis perennis), pictured, grows in similar habitats and in a similar way so could be confused at first glance. It has simple leaves which do not lobe or split.
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Use as a food The leaves taste remarkably similar to parsley and can be used in the same way - either cooked or raw. They are best eaten when young and tender. As the plant ages, all parts, including flowers, can still be eaten, but ground elder's medicinal effects are greatly increased - see Hazards Use in herbal medicine and medicine Traditionally used as a treatment for gout, ground elder has also been used to treat rheumatism, arthritis, bladder, insomnia and digestive conditions. In addition, it has been used to make poultices, and to treat burns and stings.
If you are suffering from any ailment or need medical advice, please see your General Practitioner.
Hazards Ground Elder should not be eaten in any great quantity after flowering due to its increased diuretic, laxative and soporific effects
Other uses None known Importance to other species Provides a food for the larvae of several species of moth
Always stay safe when foraging. You need to be 100% sure of your identification, 100% sure that your foraged item is edible, and 100% sure that you are not allergic to it (it is good practice to always try a small amount of any new food you are consuming). If in doubt, leave it out!
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