Peucedanum ostruthium aka Masterwort

Peucedanum ostruthium, or masterwort, belongs to the carrot family, Apiaceae. It is a perennial, which means it lives for several years. It comes from central and southern Europe. It grows in places with a temperate climate. Its range includes France, Spain, Italy, and Germany. It also grows in parts of eastern Europe. Wild plants grow in damp fields and along rivers. They grow in mountain meadows and woods as well. Other names are great masterwort, imperial masterwort, and felon wort. Imperatoria ostruthium is another name for the same plant.

Masterwort grows to about 4 feet (1.2 metres) tall. It blooms from June to August. Each flower has both male and female organs. Insects carry pollen between the flowers. The plant can also set seed with its own pollen. Its roots have a strong scent and a hot taste. The supplied species accounts say little about leaves or stems. They do not describe the fruit or state its full-grown width.

This plant is easy to grow in soil that stays moist. It grows in sand, loam, and clay soils. It copes with soil that is slightly acid or slightly alkaline. Neutral soil suits it too. Choose a sunny spot with moist soil. The same source gives two views on shade. One account allows light shade from trees in woods. The other says the plant dislikes shade. Sun is thus the clearer choice for a garden. PFAF lists USDA zones 4–8 and says it withstands frost. It suits groups in wild gardens and meadows. Its damp wild sites also help explain its need for moist soil.

People once grew masterwort for food and as a healing herb. It has since fallen out of wide use. Cooks can use its leaves as a cooked green. The leaves also add flavour to food. The scented roots add flavour too. Accounts describe their taste as hotter than pepper. People have also made a drink by fermenting the roots. Past herbal uses aimed to treat gut complaints, retained fluid, and wounds. These records show past use, not proof that these treatments work.

Sap may inflame the skin or make it sensitive to sunlight. Keep this warning in mind when handling or picking the plant. Its recorded food uses do not remove this risk from contact. The evidence gives no safety details specific to pets. It also names no pests or diseases. PFAF does not flag masterwort as a weed risk.