Alexanders

Alexanders (Smyrnium olusatrum), a biennial plant of the natural order Umbellifere (q.v.), found in waste ground, near ruins, &c. in Britain and the south of Europe. The plant has an aromatic taste, strong and pungent, but becomes rather pleasant when blanched, and was formerly much cultivated and used in the same way as celery, although at present it is little regarded. The frequency of its occurrence near ruins in Britain, may probably be referred to its former cultivation. The fruit is carminative.—S. perfoliatum, a native of Italy, is used in the same way.—Another umbelliferous genus (Zizia) is popularly called Golden Alexanders in North America.