Selinum


Selinum is a Eurasiatic genus of flowering plants in the parsley family Apiaceae.

Species

, Plants of the World Online accepted the following species:
  • Selinum alatum Poir.
  • Selinum broteroi Hoffmanns. & Link
  • Selinum carvifolia L. – Cambridge milk-parsley or little-leaf angelica
  • Selinum coniifolium Leute
  • Selinum cryptotaenium H.Boissieu
  • Selinum filicifolium Nasir
  • Selinum longicalycium M.L.Sheh
  • Selinum pauciradium Leute
  • Selinum physospermifolium Hand
  • Selinum rhodopetalum Hand
  • Selinum vaginatum C.B.Clarke
Species formerly placed in the genus include:
  • Selinum wallichianum – synonym of Ligusticopsis wallichiana
  • Selinum tenuifolium – another synonym of ''Ligusticopsis wallichiana''

Folk-medicinal and ritual uses

Several Himalayan species belonging to the genus are both taken internally and burnt as dhoop or incense as sedatives to soothe mental turmoil of various kinds in Tantric rituals. Given that aphrodisiac properties are also reported they may also be used in practices related to sex magic / sacred sexuality. They are aromatic and mildly psychoactive without being unduly toxic - some species are recorded as having been used both as human food and cattle fodder.