ANGELICA, a genus of plants of the natural order umbellifene (q.v.), by some botanists divided into two: A., and archangelica. The species are mostly herbaceous and perennial, natives of the temperate and colder regions of the northern hemisphere. They have bippinate or tripinnate leaves. WILD A. (A. spIrewtris) is a common plant in moist meadows, by the sides of brooks, and in woods in Britain and throughout many parts of Europe and Asia. The root is perennial, short, ringed, and branched; it is white within, and contains a yellow milky juice. The stem is hollow, 1 to 5 ft. high, often flecked with red; the umbel is convex. GARDEN A., A. archangclica or arch angelica officinalis, is a biennial plant, becoming perennial when not allowed to ripen its seeds. It has greenish flowers in almost spherical umbels. The stein is as high as a man. The fruit is long and straw-colored. The root is long and fusiform, an inch or more in thickness, with thick irregular rugose radicles. The whole plant, and especially the root, is aromatic and bitter. containing much resin and essential oil. The root is admitted into the pharmatopwia as an aromatic stimulant and tonic, and is used in nervous ailments, and in indigestion and flatulence. It is very little used in Britain.
The root of A. sylrestris is sometimes substituted for it, but is much weaker.—The garden A. was at one time much cultivated for the blanched stalks, which were used as celery now is; but its cultivation for this purpose has long been almost entirely discon tinued. The tender stalks and midribs of the leaves, candied, are still, however, a well-known article of confectionery, and an agreeable stomachic; the roots and seeds are employed in the preparation of gin and of " bitters." The plant is a very doubtful native of Britain, but is common in many parts of Europe, and even in Lapland and Iceland. The Laplanders not only use it as food, but regard the stalks roasted in hot ashes as an efficacious remedy in pectoral disorders.—The powdered seeds of the wild A. are used by the country people in some parts of Europe to kill lice. Several species of A. are natives of North America.