Description

Celery is an umbelliferous, aromatic, herbaceous plant grown for its leaves, seeds, oleoresin and essential oil. Celery plant is usually 30-60 cm high, erect with conspicuously jointed stems, bearing well-developed leaves on long expanded petioles. The rigid fruit is small, ovoid, 1 to 1.5mm long, 1 to 2mm in diameter, contains a small brown seed.

Origin and Distribution

The native habitat of celery extends from Sweden to Egypt, Algeria and Ethiopia and in Asia, India and China. It is an annual in the planes, whereas, biennial in cold climate and on hills.

Uses

The dried ripped fruits (celery fruit) are used as spice. Leaves and stalks are used as salads and in soups. It is also widely used in meat seasonings, in flavouring beverages, confectionaries, ice creams and baked goods. It is figured as a natural medicine in different cultures. In modern medicine, it is used as a stimulant and for treating Asthma and liver diseases.

Indian Name of Spices

Hindi : Shalari, Ajmud, Randhuni Bengali : Bandhuri, Chanur Gujarati : Bodiajmoda Malayalam : Ayamodakam Marathi : Ajmoda Punjabi : Kernauli Sanskrit : Ajmoda Tamil : Ajmoda

Foreign Name of Spices

Spanish : Aipo French : Celeri German : Sellerie Swedish : Selleri Arabic : Karafs Dutch : Selderij Italian : Sedano Portuguese : Apio Russian : Syel'derey Japanese : Serorii Chinese : Chin