INTRODUCTION AND PROPAGATION OF LOVAGE (LEVISTICUM OFFICINALE KOCH)

Lovage is a tall, perennial, aromatic herb of the parsley family, introduced into the botanical garden of this Institute from Europe in 1957 as a medicinal plant. According to the literature its roots, Radix Levistici, have long been cropped in the old European gardens as a domestic remedy, and the chemical composition of the root oil resembles that of Chinese Tang-kuei(当归),Radix Angelicae Sinensis. Studies on its propagation in Peking were made in the years of 1961-1963. Experiments indicated that lovage may be propagated by seeds either in spring or in autumn, but better result can be obtained by seeding in the early autumn. Propagation by rhizome was successful both in autumn and in spring, but preferably in early spring. The roots may be harvested in early spring or late autumn in the second or third year after sowing. The 2-year crop of the plants seeded in spring gave a yield of fresh roots per, plant averaged only 267.7 g by weight and 3.8 cm in diameter, while that of the autumn plants yielded 758.1 g by weight and 7.1 cm in diameter. For the plants propagated by rhizome in spring, the fresh roots yield averaged 265.8-303.6 g by weight and 1.64 cm in diameter. The dried roots yield 0.6-1.0 per cent of volatile oil.