Chaerophyllum bulbosum
Encyclopedia
Chaerophyllum bulbosum is a species of flowering plant in the carrot family
known by several common names, including turnip-rooted chervil
, tuberous-rooted chervil, bulbous chervil, and parsnip chervil. It is native to Europe and Western Asia.
This is a tall annual herb with fringelike divided leaves and large umbel
s of white flowers. The plant is cultivated on a small scale in parts of Europe for the edible root, which looks like a dark gray carrot
with yellowish-white flesh. After harvest it is stored for a few months, during which time the sugar content increases via hydrolysis
of starch
by amylase
s.
Storage also allows the development of the root's flavor, which is reminiscent of chestnut
. The root is prepared by boiling.
Apiaceae
The Apiaceae , commonly known as carrot or parsley family, is a group of mostly aromatic plants with hollow stems. The family is large, with more than 3,700 species spread across 434 genera, it is the sixteenth largest family of flowering plants...
known by several common names, including turnip-rooted chervil
Chervil
Chervil is a delicate annual herb related to parsley. Sometimes called garden chervil, it is used to season mild-flavoured dishes and is a constituent of the French herb mixture fines herbes.-Biology:...
, tuberous-rooted chervil, bulbous chervil, and parsnip chervil. It is native to Europe and Western Asia.
This is a tall annual herb with fringelike divided leaves and large umbel
Umbel
An umbel is an inflorescence which consists of a number of short flower stalks which are equal in length and spread from a common point, somewhat like umbrella ribs....
s of white flowers. The plant is cultivated on a small scale in parts of Europe for the edible root, which looks like a dark gray carrot
Carrot
The carrot is a root vegetable, usually orange in colour, though purple, red, white, and yellow varieties exist. It has a crisp texture when fresh...
with yellowish-white flesh. After harvest it is stored for a few months, during which time the sugar content increases via hydrolysis
Hydrolysis
Hydrolysis is a chemical reaction during which molecules of water are split into hydrogen cations and hydroxide anions in the process of a chemical mechanism. It is the type of reaction that is used to break down certain polymers, especially those made by condensation polymerization...
of starch
Starch
Starch or amylum is a carbohydrate consisting of a large number of glucose units joined together by glycosidic bonds. This polysaccharide is produced by all green plants as an energy store...
by amylase
Amylase
Amylase is an enzyme that catalyses the breakdown of starch into sugars. Amylase is present in human saliva, where it begins the chemical process of digestion. Food that contains much starch but little sugar, such as rice and potato, taste slightly sweet as they are chewed because amylase turns...
s.
Storage also allows the development of the root's flavor, which is reminiscent of chestnut
Chestnut
Chestnut , some species called chinkapin or chinquapin, is a genus of eight or nine species of deciduous trees and shrubs in the beech family Fagaceae, native to temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere. The name also refers to the edible nuts they produce.-Species:The chestnut belongs to the...
. The root is prepared by boiling.