Heracleum persicum
Heracleum persicum, commonly known as Persian hogweed or by its native name golpar, is a species of hogweed, a perennial herbaceous plant in the carrot family Apiaceae. It grows wild in humid mountainous regions in Iran and some adjacent areas. Having been introduced in the 1830s, it has spread across Scandinavia. It is now very common in northern Norway, where one of its names is Tromsø palm.
The plant has also been spotted in Sweden. In Finland, it has been declared an invasive species.
Persian hogweed is a polycarpic perennial, that is, a mature plant flowers and bears fruit season after season.
Invasiveness status
In Europe, Persian hogweed is included since 2016 in the list of Invasive Alien Species of Union concern. This implies that this species cannot be imported, cultivated, transported, commercialized, planted, or intentionally released into the environment in the whole of the European Union.Uses
Food uses
The seeds are used as a spice in Persian cooking. The very thin, small mericarps are aromatic and slightly bitter. They are usually sold in powdered form and are often erroneously sold as "angelica seeds". The powder is sprinkled over broad beans, lentils and other legumes, and potatoes.Golpar is also used in soups and stews, or sprinkled over pomegranate arils. Golpar is also mixed with vinegar into which broad beans are dipped before eating.
Golpar can be used in small amounts when cooking beans and is alleged to reduce the effect of gas in the digestive tract associated with consuming beans.
In Persian cuisine, the petals are used in the spice mixture advieh to flavor rice dishes, as well as in chicken, fish, and bean dishes.
The tender leaves and leaf stalks can also be pickled.