Parsley is a key ingredient in several West Asian salads, such as tabbouleh, which is the national dish of Lebanon.
Parsley belongs to the flowering plant family Apiaceae, which also is known as the parsley family.
The use of curly-leaf parsley may be favored by some because it cannot be confused with the similar poison hemlock of the same family, such as may happen with flat-leaf parsley.
Parsley is the common name for a bright green, biennial herb of European origin, Petroselinum crispum, which is extensively cultivated for its leaves, which are used as a garnish or for flavoring food.
Parsley as an oil, root, leaf, or seed could lead to uterine stimulation and preterm labor (WKH 2006).
Furanocoumarins in parsley's seed coat may be responsible for parsley's problematic germination.
An advisory panel on herbal medicines, German Commission E, has approved parsley for use in the prevention and treatment of kidney stones (Hanrahan and Frey 2005).
Petroselinum crispum, or parsley, is a self-seeding biennial plant with a single, spindle-shaped taproot, from which grow smooth and many-branched, juicy stems.
Parsley grows well in deep pots, which helps accommodate the long taproot.
Parsley grown indoors requires at least five hours of sunlight a day.
Hanrahan and Frey (2005) report that in ancient times, parsley was dedicated to Persephone, the wife of Hades and goddess of the underworld.
Parsley is used for its leaf in much the same way as coriander (which is also known as Chinese parsley or cilantro), although it has a milder flavor.
Parsley is sold in bunches and can be refrigerated for up to a week (Herbst 2001).
The Apiaceae family, to which parsley belongs, is also known as the Umbelliferae family, with both names allowed by the International Code of Botanical Nomenclature.
Soaking parsley seeds overnight before sowing will shorten the germination period (Jett).
Parsley's germination is notoriously slow and inconsistent and may require three to six weeks (Jett).
Parsley is high in oxalic acid, a compound involved in the formation of kidney stones and nutrient deficiencies.
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Dried parsley is sold as a spice, but is not similar to the fresh parsley in flavor (Herbst 2001).
Parsley oil contains furanocoumarins and psoralens, which leads to extreme photosensitivity if used orally.
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Parsley grows well in deep pots, which helps accommodate the long taproot.