Updated 04-May-2020.
Mondo shtuff from around the internet, all about PARSNIP!
My botty best at summarizing from Wikipedia: the parsnip (Pastinaca sativa) is a biennial plant usually grown as an annual . it is closely related to carrot and parsley; all belong to the family Apiaceae . the parsnip is native to Eurasia; it has been used as a vegetable since antiquity . it is usually cooked, but it can also be eaten raw . high in vitamins and minerals, especially potassium . it is attacked by the carrot fly and other insect pests, as well as viruses and fungal diseases . parsnips are grown for their fleshy, edible, cream-colored taproots. the plant’s apical meristem produces a rosette of pinnate leaves . the lower leaves have short stems, the upper ones are stemless, and terminal leaves have three lobes the floral stem develops in the second year and can grow to more than 150 cm (60 in) tall . it is hairy, grooved, hollow (except at the nodes), and sparsely branched the flowers have tiny sepals or lack them entirely, and measure about 3.5 mm (0.14 in) the fruits, or schizocarps, are oval and flat, with narrow wings and short, spreading styles the parsnip was much esteemed, and the Emperor Tiberius accepted part of the tribute payable to Rome by Germany in the form of parsnips . in Europe, the vegetable was used as a source of sugar before can pastinache comuni is the “common” pastinaca . the plant was introduced to North America for use as a root vegetable . in the mid-19th century, it was replaced as the main source of star Pastinaca pratensis (Pers.) sylvestris Mill. Pastinca teretiuscula Boiss. several species from other genera are likewise synonymous with the name . several subspecies and varieties of P. sativa have been described . Rouy & Camus Pastinaca sativa subsp. pratensis (Pers.) elak Rouy & Camus Pastinaca sativa subsp. umbrosa (Steven, ex DC.) Bondar . ex O.N.Korovina Pastinaga s ex Godr. elak. Pastinaca sativa var. brevis Alef. Pastinaca sativa var. hortensis Ehrh. ex Hoffm. longa Alef. Pastinaca sativa var. pratensis Pers. parsnips can be baked, boiled, pureed, roasted, fried, grilled, or steamed . when used in stews, soups, and casseroles, they give a rich flavor roast parsnip is considered an essential part of Christmas dinner in some parts of the english-speaking world . parsnips can also be fried or thinly sliced and made into crisps . they can be made into a most parsnip cultivars consist of about 80% water, 5% sugar, 1% protein, 0.3% fat, and 5% dietary fiber . the parsnip is rich in vitamins and minerals, and is particularly rich in potassium the high fiber content of parsnips may help prevent constipation and reduce blood cholesterol levels . folk etymology sometimes assumes the name is a mix of parsley and turnip . parsnips are biennials, but are normally grown as annuals . sandy and loamy soils are preferable to silt, clay, and stony ground . seed significantly deteriorates in vi the rows can be covered with straw to enable the crop to be lifted during frosty weather . low soil temperatures cause some of the starches stored in the roots to be converted into sugars . the effects are most serious on young the crop can be attacked by larvae of the carrot fly (Chamaepsila rosae) this pest feeds on the outer layers of the root, burrowing its way inside later in the season parsnip canker is a serious disease of this crop . black or orange-brown patches occur around the crown and shoulders of the root . Several fungi are associated with canker . watery soft rot, caused by Sclerotinia minor and S. sclerotiorum, causes taproot to become soft and watery . a white or buff-colored mold grows on the surface Erysiphe heraclei causes mildew that can cause significant crop loss . moderate temperatures and high humidity favor the development of the disease . reports of gardeners experiencing toxic symptoms after coming into contact with foliage have been made . symptoms include redness, burning, blisters; afflicted areas can remain sensitive and discolored for up to two years . toxic properties of Polyynes can be found in Apiaceae vegetables such as parsnip, and they show cytotoxic activities . Pastinaca sativa . Alien Species photo bank. NOBANIS. Retrieved September 20, 2018. Retrieved October 20, 2018.