The tender leaves have been used as a spring leaf vegetable much like spinach. It has also been used to treat gout and arthritis. The plant is said to have been introduced into England by the Romans and into Northern Europe by monks.

In some areas this plant is considered among the worst of weeds, readily spreading over large areas of ground by underground rhizomes. It is extremely invasive, and crowds out native species. The smallest piece of rhizome left in the ground will quickly form a sturdy new plant, followed by many more.

If a small plant finds its way into an ornamental perennial flower garden it will spread with vigor, resist all attempts at eradication, and make continued ornamental gardening there very difficult.

A variegated form is grown as an ornamental plant, though with the advice to keep it isolated. It is used as a food plant by the larvae of some species of Lepidoptera including dot moth, grey dagger and grey pug.

It is in the carrot family (Apiaceae) that grows in shady places. It is sometimes also cited as "ground elder", though this format invites confusion by suggesting it is a species of elder (Sambucus), an unrelated genus. It is also known as herb gerard, bishop's weed and snow-in-the-mountain. It is the type species of the genus Aegopodium.

Ajwain is also known as bishop's weed.

Images

External links

Herbal information

• Goutweed (Aegopodium podagraria) Mrs. Grieve's "A Modern Herbal" at Botanical.com

Medicinal information

• Ground Elder Aegopodium Podagraria Online Herb Guide

General information and control measures

• Plant Conservation Alliance, Alien Plant Working Group: Goutweed (US Specific)