parsnip

Parsnip, river, Canada

Parsnip, river, c.150 mi (240 km) long, rising in central British Columbia, Canada, and flowing northwest to join the Finlay River at Williston Lake and form the Peace River. Explored by Sir Alexander Mackenzie in 1793, it became, with the Peace River, an important fur-trade route.

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parsnip, in botany

parsnip, garden plant (Pastinaca sativa) of the family Umbelliferae (parsley family), native to the Old World. It has been cultivated since Roman times for its long, fleshy, edible root. Wine and beer have also been made from it. The wild form has become naturalized in North America, often proving a noxious weed. Parsnip is a biennial but is cultivated as an annual. The root can be left in the ground all winter without deterioration. It is also used as livestock feed. Parsnip is classified in the division Magnoliophyta, class Magnoliopsida, order Apiales, family Umbelliferae.

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parsnip

Parsnip (Pastinaca sativa).

(credit: G.R. Roberts)

Plant (Pastinaca sativa) of the parsley family, cultivated for its large, tapering, fleshy, edible white root, which has a distinctive, sweet flavour and is usually served as a cooked vegetable. At the end of summer the solids of the root consist largely of starch, but a period of low temperature changes much of the starch to sugar. The root is hardy and not damaged by hard freezing of the soil. Native to Britain, Europe, and temperate Asia, the parsnip has become extensively naturalized in North America.

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parsnip

1. a strong-scented umbelliferous plant, Pastinaca sativa, cultivated for its long whitish root

2. any of several similar plants, esp the cow parsnip

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parsnip [′pär·snəp]

(botany)

Pastinaca sativa.A biennial herb of Mediterranean origin belonging to the order Umbellales; grown for its edible thickened taproot.