Identify Horseradish

HORSERADISH / SUMMER / AUTUMN / WINTER / EDIBLE

COMMON NAMES

Horseradish

BOTANICAL NAME

Armoracia Rusticana

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS

Root –  A large, white, tapered root, the root when intact doesn’t really smell but once grated, chopped or damaged it will release the familiar aroma. The root can become quite gnarled and be difficult to remove depending on ground conditions and permission must be gained from the land owner.

Stems – N/A

Leaves – Hairless, bright green, unlobed leaves that can grow upto 1 metre long and resemble dock leaves. When crushed they give off the horseradish scent.

Flowers – The white four-petalled flowers are scented and grow in dense panicles. The flowers as with many members of the Brassicaceae family form a cross.                Seeds – Unknown.

SCIENTIFIC CLASSIFICATION

Kingdom – Plantae

Order – Brassicales

Family – Brassicaceae

Genus – Armoracia

KNOWN HAZARDS

Horseradish contains volatile oils namely allyl isothiocyanate (mustard oil) and can be poisonous if eaten in large quantities.

People who are pregnant or lactating,  suffering from hepatitis, acid reflux, thyroid disorders, hyperacidity and inflammatory bowel disorders, should avoid consumption of large quantities.

COULD BE CONFUSED WITH

Some members of the dock family have similar leaves but lack the horseradish scent when crushed. They are also dull in appearance.

RANGE AND DISTRIBUTION

Native to Western Asia it arrived in the UK before the 15th century and has thrived, it causes no problems in the wild.

HABITAT

Commonly found on waste ground, woodland edges and by the coast.

EDIBLE USES

The leaves and the roots are both edible.

The young leaves can be eaten raw or cooked like spinach or cabbage.

The root is really the best part of this plant. It is best to harvest it in early winter. It is much stronger in flavour than the cultivated variety and is traditionally used to make horseradish sauce.

It also has many uses in herbalism including to treat skin redness, digestive disorders, constipation, chest infections, arthritis, chilblains, muscle soreness, and urinary tract infections.

It has also been used as a diuretic, antiseptic and expectorant. Research is being undertaken into potential anti-tumour properties.