Arkosellenoudin - fool's watercress

«Αρκοσελλενούιν (Apium nodiflorum)» <br/> Πηγή: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apium_nodiflorum#/media/File:Helosciadium_nodiflorum2.jpg

«Αρκοσελλενούιν (Apium nodiflorum)» Πηγή: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apium_nodiflorum#/media/File:Helosciadium_nodiflorum2.jpg

«Αρκοσελλενούιν (Apium nodiflorum)» <br/> Πηγή: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apium_nodiflorum#/media/File:Helosciadium_nodiflorum2.jpg

Wild, edible, small-sized celery. The leaves and tender shoots are consumed boiled, fried or in soups and sauces.

Name - Origin
Cypriot name of food
Αρκοσελλενού(δ)ιν. Arkosellenoú(d)in.
Greek name - description

It is a wild, edible, small-sized celery (Kypri 1983 [2003²], entry αρκοσελλενούδιν,το, 131).

The arkosellenoúdin is a perennial self-sown plant. It has compound leaves with serrated margins on the leaflets. It has a taste and smell similar to that of domestic celery. It occurs in wet places, rivers, springs etc. (Savvides 1999, 18-19).

Language remarks

Scientific name: Apium nodiflorum/Umbelliferae (Savvides 1999, 18-19)

Processing method

The leaves and tender shoots are consumed boiled, fried or in soups and sauces (Savvides 1999, 18-19).

Time period
19th - 20th c.
Supplementary Information

A related plant is the arkosellenon (wild celery), scientific name: Ammi majus/Umbelliferae), an annual plant. Its leaves are toothed around the margins. The plant bears a central stem, which usually branches at the top to produce flowering inflorescences. Arkosellenon is usually found in uncultivated fields, river banks, field boundaries, etc. The leaves are not eaten because they have a bitter taste (Savvides, 1999, 18-19)

Bibliography

Kypri Th. D. (ed.) (1983 [2003²]), Materials for the compilation of a historical dictionary of the Cypriot dialect, Part B, Glossary of Xenophon P. Pharmakides, Publications of the Centre for Scientific Research, IX, Nicosia.

Savvides L. (1999), Αγριόχορτα που τρώγονται: Από τη χλωρίδα της Κύπρου, Print today, Nicosia.

Researcher/Recorder

Stalo Lazarou, Jyriaki Panetli / Petroula Hadjittofi, Argyro Xenophontos