View source for Cicely

<div class="notice" style="font-style:italic">This article is about the European herb. For the American herb, see [[Osmorhiza]].</div>
{{Taxobox
| color = lightgreen
| name = Cicely
| image = Illustration Myrrhis odorata0.jpg
| image_width = 240px
| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
| divisio = [[Flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]]
| classis = [[Magnoliopsida]]
| ordo = [[Apiales]]
| familia = [[Apiaceae]]
| genus = '''''Myrrhis'''''
| species = '''''M. odorata'''''
| binomial = ''Myrrhis odorata''
| binomial_authority = ([[Carolus Linnaeus|L.]]) [[Giovanni Antonio Scopoli|Scop.]]
}}

'''Cicely''' or '''Sweet Cicely''' (''Myrrhis odorata'') is a [[plant]] belonging to the [[family (biology)|family]] [[Apiaceae]], native to central [[Europe]]; it is the sole species in the genus ''Myrrhis''. It is a tall [[herbaceous]] [[perennial plant]], growing to 2 m tall. The [[leaf|leaves]] are finely divided, feathery, up to 50 cm long. The [[flower]]s are white, 2-4 mm across, produced in large [[umbel]]s. The [[seed]]s are slender, 15-25 mm long and 3-4 mm broad.

===Cultivation and uses===
Its leaves are sometimes used as a [[herb]], with a rather strong taste reminiscent of [[anise]]; it is used mainly in [[Germany]] and [[Scandinavia]]. Like its relatives anise, [[fennel]], and [[caraway]], it can also be used to flavour [[akvavit]]. Its essential oils are dominated by [[anethole]].

== External links ==
*[http://www.uni-graz.at/~katzer/engl/Myrr_odo.html Cicely] - Gernot Katzer's Spice Pages.

[[Category:Apiaceae]]
[[Category:Herbs]]