"A plant of the natural order Umbelliefrae, a native of the elevated table-lands in the neighborhood of Santa Fe de Bogota and Caracas, and of regions of similar climate in other parts of Tropical America. It is much cultivated in its native country for its roots, which are used as an esculent. The root divides into a number of parts, which resemble cows' horns or large carrots. When boiled, they are firm and tender, with a flavor not so strong as that of a parsnip." — Chambers' Encyclopedia, 1875

Arracacha

"A plant of the natural order Umbelliefrae, a native of the elevated table-lands in the neighborhood…

"A genus of plants of the natural order Umbelliferae, having petals bent in at the middle, and flat compressed fruit. One species only is a native of Britain, the common cow parsnip is hog-weed, called Kiesh in Scotland; a common and rank weed, with coarsely hairy leaves, and stem about 3-5 feet high." — Chambers' Encyclopedia, 1875

Cow Parsnip

"A genus of plants of the natural order Umbelliferae, having petals bent in at the middle, and flat…

A cow-parsnip. 1, flower; 2, fruit; 3, carpel (section)

Cow-parsnip

A cow-parsnip. 1, flower; 2, fruit; 3, carpel (section)

Parsnip roots are eaten as a vegetable. Pictured is a parsnip with a portion of its leaves removed.

Parsnip

Parsnip roots are eaten as a vegetable. Pictured is a parsnip with a portion of its leaves removed.

<i>Sium sisarum</i>. "A species of water parsnip, generally said to be of Chinese origin, long cultivated in Europe for its esculent root. It is a plant a foot high with pinnate leaves, a hardy perennial, but grown as an annual. The root is composed of small fleshy tubers, of the size of the little finger, united at the crown." &mdash;Whitney, 1889

Skirret

Sium sisarum. "A species of water parsnip, generally said to be of Chinese origin, long cultivated in…