Angelica is a genus of about 50 species of tall biennial and perennial herbs in the family Apiaceae, native to temperate and subarctic regions of the Northern Hemisphere, reaching as far North as Iceland and Lapland. They grow to 1-2 m tall, with large bipinnate leaves and large compound umbels of white or greenish-white flowers.

Species

Angelica ampla - Giant Angelica Angelica archangelica - Garden Angelica, Archangel, Angelique Angelica arguta - Lyall's Angelica Angelica atropurpurea - Purplestem Angelica, Alexanders Angelica breweri - Brewer's Angelica Angelica californica - California Angelica Angelica callii - Call's Angelica Angelica canbyi - Canby's Angelica Angelica cartilaginomarginata Angelica dahurica - bai zhi in Chinese Angelica dawsonii - Dawson's Angelica Angelica dentata - Coastalplain Angelica Angelica genuflexa - Kneeling Angelica Angelica gigas Angelica glabra - synonym for Angelica dahurica[1] Angelica grayi - Gray's Angelica Angelica hendersonii - Henderson's Angelica Angelica kingii - King's Angelica Angelica lineariloba - Poison Angelica Angelica lucida - Seacoast Angelica Angelica pachyacarpa Angelica palustris Angelica pinnata - Small-leaf Angelica Angelica pubescens Angelica roseana - Rose Angelica Angelica sinensis - Dong quai Angelica scabrida - Charleston Mountain Angelica Angelica sylvestris - Wild Angelica Angelica tomentosa - Woolly Angelica Angelica triquinata - Filmy Angelica Angelica venosa - Hairy Angelica Angelica wheeleri - Utah Angelica

Cultivation and uses

Wild Angelica (Angelica sylvestris) from Thomé, Flora von Deutschland, Österreich und der Schweiz 1885Some members are grown as a flavoring agent and for their medicinal properties. The most notable of these is Garden Angelica (A. archangelica) which is commonly known just as Angelica. Natives of Lapland use the fleshy roots as food and the stalks as medicine. Crystallized strips of young angelica stems and midribs are green in colour and are sold as decorative and flavoursome cake decoration material. The roots and seeds are sometimes employed to flavor gin and Chartreuse. Seacoast Angelica (A. lucida) has been eaten as a sort of "wild celery". A. sylvestris and some other species are eaten by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species including Bordered Pug, Grey Pug, Lime-speck Pug and The V-Pug. A. dawsonii was used by several first nations in North America for ritual purposes A. atropurpurea is found in North America from Newfoundland west to Wisconsin and south to Maryland and was smoked by Missouri tribes for colds and respiratory ailments. This species is very similar in appearance to the poisonous water hemlock