lovage

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• garden lovage
• Lovage

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Hipposelinum levisticum
• Selinum levisticum
• Levisticum caucasicum
• Levisticum paludapifolium
• Levisticum persicum
• Levisticum vulgare
• Ligusticum levisticum
• Angelica levisticum
• Angelica paludapifolia

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta within the class Equisetopsida. It is further classified under the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Apiales, falling into the family Apiaceae. Finally, its taxonomic identity is defined by the genus Levisticum.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant, Levisticum officinale, is widely distributed across several regions of Northern Europe. It can be found growing in the natural landscapes of Denmark and Finland. Additionally, the species is well-established within the territories of Great Britain and Ireland. Its presence even extends to the more northern reaches of Iceland. Together, these locations highlight the specific climatic preferences of this medicinal herb.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Levisticum officinale is characterized by a broad altitudinal adaptability, allowing it to thrive across a vast vertical gradient. It can be found at elevations ranging from sea level (0 m AMSL) up to a maximum of 3700 m AMSL. In terms of preferred microhabitats, this species frequently colonizes disturbed areas, specifically appearing along roadsides, where it establishes itself within the local landscape.

Elevational range max:

3700 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

roadsides

Life history

The life history of Levisticum officinale is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, meaning it undergoes multiple growth cycles over several years rather than completing its life cycle in a single season. As a hemicryptophyte, its regenerative buds are located at or just below the soil surface, typically protected by leaf litter or surface debris during unfavorable environmental conditions. This life form allows the plant to persist through seasonal changes, re-emerging from its perennial rootstock to establish new foliage and reproductive structures once favorable growing conditions return.

Life form :

hemicryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Levisticum officinale is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb, specifically classified as a forb. This plant is a self-supporting species that does not function as a climber, liana, or vine, nor does it exhibit parasitic or epiphytic behavior, maintaining an independent and terrestrial lifestyle. In terms of stature, the plant displays significant variability in height, with measurements ranging from a minimum of 1 meter to a maximum of 25 meters, though it maintains a mean height of approximately 9.35 meters.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

25 m

Plant height mean:

9.35 m

Plant height min:

1 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Levisticum officinale is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, reflecting its metabolic strategy for carbon fixation. As a non-carnivorous species, it relies entirely on autotrophic nutrition through its foliage, which exhibits significant morphological variation. The leaves display a mean length of 7.5 cm, ranging from a minimum of 4 cm to a maximum of 11 cm, while the width varies from a minimum of 2 cm to a maximum of 7 cm, resulting in a mean leaf width of 4.5 cm. These dimensions contribute to a substantial mean leaf size of 675.88 cm². Furthermore, the plant maintains a mean Specific Leaf Area (SLA) of 270 cm²/g, a physiological indicator of its leaf mass per area and its resource allocation strategy regarding light interception and structural investment.

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Leaf length max:

11 cm

Leaf length mean:

7.5 cm

Leaf length min:

4 cm

Leaf size mean:

675.88 cm²

Leaf width max:

7 cm

Leaf width mean:

4.5 cm

Leaf width min:

2 cm

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

270 cm²/g

Reproduction

The reproduction of Levisticum officinale is characterized by a sexual process, as asexual reproduction is absent. The flowering period typically begins in July and concludes in August. The plant utilizes a biotic pollination syndrome, specifically relying on insects to facilitate the transfer of pollen. Following successful fertilization, which can occur through self-fertilization, the plant develops fruits that vary in size, with a mean length of 6 cm (ranging from a minimum of 5 cm to a maximum of 7 cm) and a mean width of 3.5 cm (ranging from 3 cm to 4 cm). The seeds produced are quite small, possessing a mean mass of 0.001697 g, with recorded values between 0.001697 g and 0.002 g. Finally, the dispersal of the species is categorized as anthropochorous, indicating that human activity plays a role in the movement of its seeds.

Dispersal syndrome :

anthropochorous

Flowering time :

Jul

Flowering time :

Aug

Fruit length max:

7 cm

Fruit length mean:

6 cm

Fruit length min:

5 cm

Fruit width max:

4 cm

Fruit width mean:

3.5 cm

Fruit width min:

3 cm

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Seed mass max:

0.002 g

Seed mass mean:

0.001697 g

Self fertilization :

present

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Levisticum officinale has 3 reported plant parts identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include fruit, leaf, root.

Fruit

1. Fitoterapia

Leaf

1. Anticancer research

Root

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Chemicals

Levisticum officinale has 109 reported phytochemicals identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Apterin, Coumarins, (+)-Falcarindiol, 1,8-Cineole, 2-OCTANONE.

Apterin

1. Dr. Duke
2. Metabolites

Coumarins

1. Dr. Duke
2. Metabolites

(+)-Falcarindiol

1. Dr. Duke

1,8-Cineole

1. Dr. Duke

2-OCTANONE

1. Dr. Duke

2-methyl butanal

1. Dr. Duke

3-BUTYLPHTHALIDE

1. Dr. Duke

3-butyl-4,5-dihydrophthalide

1. Dr. Duke

4-OCTANONE

1. Dr. Duke

5-Methoxy psoralen

1. Dr. Duke

Activities

Levisticum officinale has 450 reported activities identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Antibacterial, Analgesic, Anticholinesterase, Antifungal.

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Iranian journal of microbiology
3. Food & function
4. Metabolic brain disease

Antibacterial

1. Dr. Duke
2. Iranian journal of microbiology
3. Saudi journal of biological sciences

Analgesic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Anticholinesterase

1. Dr. Duke
2. Food & function

Antifungal

1. Iranian journal of microbiology
2. Saudi journal of biological sciences

Antiviral

1. Dr. Duke
2. Iranian journal of microbiology

Diuretic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Iranian journal of pharmaceutical research : IJPR

(-)-Chronotropic

1. Dr. Duke

(-)-Inotropic

1. Dr. Duke

5-Alpha-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Medicinal Uses

Levisticum officinale has 14 reported medicinal uses identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include neuroinflammation, urinary tract infections, Gram-negative bacteria, cystitis, diuretic.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations