Aegopodium podagraria Ground-elder

Aegopodium podagraria is an archaeophyte perennial which is widespread and common in Britain. It reproduces by seed but it also has an extensive underground rhizome sysytem and is an aggressive colonist of waste ground, roadside verges, hedgebanks, and in gardens and other cultivated areas where it can become a serious weed. It is shade tolerant and will colonise woodland habitats. It is widespread in West Glamorgan where it is largely a plant of the lowlands and it is a common component of the riparian woodland fora of the Neath Valley. Archaeological evidence indicates that Ground-elder was introduced in Roman times, perhaps as a medicinal herb. It has a long association with herbal medicine which goes back to the middle ages when it was often known as Goutweed. It certainly contains a range of interesting phytochemicals such as essential oils, polyacetylenes. mono and sequi-terpenes and phenolic compounds. Antioxidant activity which has been demonstrated in its extracts suggest that it could provide beneficial effects that could alleviate inflammatory conditions such as gout, which is a form of inflammatory arthritis.

Archaeophyte