Pastinaca sativa (PROSEA)

Plant Resources of South-East Asia Introduction

List of species

Pastinaca sativa L.

Family: Umbelliferae

Vernacular names

• Parsnip (En)
• Pastenague, panais (Fr)
• Philippines: parsnip.

Distribution

Native to Europe and temperate Asia. Cultivated mainly in temperate regions all over the world, sometimes in the tropics and subtropics.

Uses

In Europe the fleshy aromatic root is eaten, mostly cooked like carrots. In Indonesia (Jakarta) the root is occasionally found in the supermarkets, imported from Australia. Leaves and roots have diuretic properties.

Observations

• Biennial herb, 30-150 cm tall, with fusiform, fleshy, white taproot and grooved stem.
• Leaves pinnate; leaflets ovate-oblong, often 3-lobed or deeply divided, 2-13 cm × 1-5 cm.

Can be cultivated at higher altitudes (above ca. 900 m) in the tropics.

Selected sources

7, 13, 57, 74, 77, 91.