Levisticum officinale aka Lovage

Lovage, scientifically known as Levisticum officinale, is the only species in the genus Levisticum and belongs to the family Apiaceae, subfamily Apioideae. This tall perennial plant has been cultivated in Europe for a long time and is highly valued for its various uses. The leaves are commonly used as a herb, while the roots are consumed as a vegetable and the seeds as a spice, particularly in southern European cuisine. Lovage is an erect herbaceous plant that grows up to 2.5 meters tall, with a basal rosette of leaves and stems that bear further leaves. The stems and leaves are shiny and glabrous green to yellow-green, emitting a scent resembling celery when crushed. The basal leaves are large, up to 70 cm long, tripinnate, with broad triangular to rhomboidal, acutely pointed leaflets. The stem leaves are smaller and less divided, with few leaflets. The flowers, which appear in late spring, are yellow to greenish-yellow and produced in globose umbels up to 15 cm in diameter. The fruit is a dry two-parted schizocarp that matures in autumn and is 4-7 mm long. The seeds are used in bread, butter, cake, and cookies, while the leaves are added to tea, soup, stew, cheese, and chicken dishes. The flowers taste like celery and can be used in salads, soup, and broth. The root is also edible and can be consumed as a root vegetable.