Named in Hortulus and Capitulare de villis
Lovage
Levisticum officinale
What was written
Lovage appears in the Hortulus and in the Capitulare de villis. In a northern monastery garden it would have been among the largest herbs grown, and its scent — closest to celery, but heavier — makes it one of the few plants in the physic garden identifiable at a distance without looking.
The plant itself
A vigorous perennial umbellifer reaching two metres in good soil, with glossy divided leaves and yellow-green flower heads. It dies back to the root entirely each winter and returns early.
Still growing
Since the plant was written into that garden list, botanists, herbaria and ordinary observers have recorded finding it 12,792 times.
Live count from GBIF, cached for a week.