160 Species in Genus Pimpinella

Pimpinella: A Genus of Delicate Beauty and Culinary Interest

My name is Ferb Vu, and I’ve always been fascinated by the intricate world of plants. Their diversity, their resilience, and their quiet beauty have always captivated me. Among the many plant genera that have piqued my interest, Pimpinella holds a special place. This diverse genus, belonging to the Apiaceae family, boasts a fascinating array of species, some of which have significant culinary and medicinal uses.

A Diverse Genus with Global Reach

Pimpinella is a large genus, with over 160 recognized species. These species are distributed across a wide range of habitats, from Europe and Asia to Africa and even South America. This geographical diversity is reflected in the morphological variety within the genus. Some Pimpinella species are small, herbaceous plants, while others are tall and robust. The leaves can be simple or compound, and the flowers, typically white or pink, are arranged in umbels, a characteristic feature of the Apiaceae family.

Species within the Genus

Among the many species of Pimpinella, several stand out due to their unique characteristics or uses.

1. Anise (Pimpinella anisum): Perhaps the most well-known species in the genus, anise is renowned for its distinct licorice-like flavor. This annual herb is native to the eastern Mediterranean region and is widely cultivated for its seeds, which are used as a spice in both sweet and savory dishes. Anise is also used in the production of liqueurs, such as anisette and absinthe.
2. Burnet-saxifrage (Pimpinella saxifraga): This perennial herb is native to Europe and Asia and is characterized by its delicate, fern-like leaves and umbels of white or pink flowers. Burnet-saxifrage has a long history of use in traditional medicine, where it was believed to have diuretic and astringent properties.
3. Greater Burnet-saxifrage (Pimpinella major): Similar in appearance to Burnet-saxifrage, this species is distinguished by its larger size and more robust growth habit. It is also native to Europe and Asia and has been used traditionally for its purported medicinal properties.
4. Pimpinella peregrina: This species is native to the Mediterranean region and is characterized by its finely divided leaves and umbels of white flowers. It has been used traditionally as a culinary herb and for its purported medicinal properties.
5. Pimpinella acronemastrum Farille & Lachard
6. Pimpinella acuminata (Edgew.) C.B.Clarke
7. Pimpinella acutidentata C.Norman
8. Pimpinella adiyamanensis Yıld. & Kılıç
9. Pimpinella adscendens Dalzell
10. Pimpinella affinis Ledeb.
11. Pimpinella afra (Eckl. & Zeyh.) D.Dietr.
12. Pimpinella ahmarensis Dawit
13. Pimpinella alismatifolia C.C.Towns.
14. Pimpinella anagodendron Bolle
15. Pimpinella anisactis Rech.f.
16. Pimpinella anisetum Boiss. & Balansa
17. Pimpinella anisoides V.Brig.
18. Pimpinella aromatica M.Bieb.
19. Pimpinella atropurpurea C.Y.Wu ex R.H.Shan & F.T.Pu
20. Pimpinella aurea DC.
21. Pimpinella barbata (DC.) Boiss.
22. Pimpinella battandieri Chabert
23. Pimpinella betsileensis Humbert ex Sales & Hedge
24. Pimpinella bialata H.Wolff
25. Pimpinella bisinuata H.Wolff
26. Pimpinella bobrovii (Woronow ex Schischk.) M.Hiroe
27. Pimpinella brachyclada Rech.f. & Riedl
28. Pimpinella bracteata Haines
29. Pimpinella buchananii H.Wolff
30. Pimpinella camptotricha Penz.
31. Pimpinella candolleana Wight & Arn.
32. Pimpinella cappadocica Boiss. & Balansa
33. Pimpinella caudata (Franch.) H.Wolff
34. Pimpinella chungdienensis C.Y.Wu
35. Pimpinella cnidioides H.Pearson ex H.Wolff
36. Pimpinella coriacea (Franch.) H.Boissieu
37. Pimpinella corymbosa Boiss.
38. Pimpinella cretica Poir.
39. Pimpinella cumbrae Link
40. Pimpinella cypria Boiss.
41. Pimpinella dendroselinum Webb
42. Pimpinella deverroides (Boiss.) Boiss.
43. Pimpinella diversifolia DC.
44. Pimpinella ebracteata Baker
45. Pimpinella enguezekensis Yıldırım, Akalın & Yeşil
46. Pimpinella eriocarpa Banks & Sol.
47. Pimpinella erythraeae Armari
48. Pimpinella etbaica Schweinf.
49. Pimpinella fargesii H.Boissieu
50. Pimpinella favifolia C.Norman
51. Pimpinella filiformis H.Wolff
52. Pimpinella filipedicellata S.L.Liou
53. Pimpinella flabellifolia (Boiss.) Benth. & Hook.f. ex Drude
54. Pimpinella flaccida C.B.Clarke
55. Pimpinella gilanica Mozaff.
56. Pimpinella grisea H.Wolff
57. Pimpinella hadacii Engstrand
58. Pimpinella hastata C.B.Clarke
59. Pimpinella helosciadoidea H.Boissieu
60. Pimpinella henryi Diels
61. Pimpinella heyneana (DC.) Benth. & Hook.f.
62. Pimpinella heywoodii Dawit
63. Pimpinella hirtella (Hochst.) A.Rich.
64. Pimpinella homblei C.Norman
65. Pimpinella huillensis Welw. ex Engl.
66. Pimpinella humbertii Sales & Hedge
67. Pimpinella ibradiensis Çinbilgel, Eren, H.Duman & Gökceoğlu
68. Pimpinella × intermedia Figert
69. Pimpinella inundata (Farille & S.B.Malla) P.K.Mukh. & Constance
70. Pimpinella isaurica V.A.Matthews
71. Pimpinella javana DC.
72. Pimpinella junionae Ceballos & Ortuño
73. Pimpinella kaessneri (H.Wolff) Cannon
74. Pimpinella kawalekhensis Farille & Lachard
75. Pimpinella keniensis C.Norman
76. Pimpinella khayyamii Mozaff.
77. Pimpinella khorasanica Engstrand
78. Pimpinella kingdon-wardii H.Wolff
79. Pimpinella koelzii M.Hiroe
80. Pimpinella kotschyana Boiss.
81. Pimpinella kurdica Rech.f. & Riedl
82. Pimpinella kyimbilaensis H.Wolff
83. Pimpinella ledermannii H.Wolff
84. Pimpinella leptoclada (Aitch. & Hemsl.) Mousavi, Mozaff. & Zarre
85. Pimpinella leschenaultii DC.
86. Pimpinella liiana M.Hiroe
87. Pimpinella limprichtii H.Wolff
88. Pimpinella lindblomii H.Wolff
89. Pimpinella lineariloba Cannon
90. Pimpinella lutea Desf.
91. Pimpinella menachensis Schweinf. ex H.Wolff
92. Pimpinella mulanjensis C.C.Towns.
93. Pimpinella nana Pimenov
94. Pimpinella neglecta C.Norman
95. Pimpinella nephrophylla Rech.f. & Riedl
96. Pimpinella nervosa C.B.Clarke
97. Pimpinella niitakayamensis Hayata
98. Pimpinella nudicaulis Trautv.
99. Pimpinella nyingchiensis Z.H.Pan & K.Yao
100. Pimpinella oliverioides Boiss. & Hausskn.
101. Pimpinella olivieri Boiss.
102. Pimpinella oreophila Hook.f.
103. Pimpinella paludosa C.C.Towns.
104. Pimpinella parishiana Kurz
105. Pimpinella pastinacifolia (Boiss.) H.Wolff
106. Pimpinella paucidentata V.A.Matthews
107. Pimpinella perrieri Sales & Hedge
108. Pimpinella peucedanifolia Fisch. ex Ledeb.
109. Pimpinella physotrichioides C.Norman
110. Pimpinella pimpinelloides (Hochst.) H.Wolff
111. Pimpinella pretenderis Orph. ex Halácsy
112. Pimpinella procumbens (Boiss.) Pau
113. Pimpinella propinqua H.Wolff
114. Pimpinella pruatjan Molk.
115. Pimpinella puberula (DC.) Boiss.
116. Pimpinella purpurea (Franch.) H.Boissieu
117. Pimpinella renifolia H.Wolff
118. Pimpinella rhodantha Boiss.
119. Pimpinella rhomboidea Diels
120. Pimpinella richardsiae C.C.Towns.
121. Pimpinella rigidistyla C.C.Towns.
122. Pimpinella rigidiuscula C.C.Towns.
123. Pimpinella rigidula (Boiss. & Orph.) H.Wolff
124. Pimpinella robynsii C.Norman
125. Pimpinella rollae Billore & Hemadri
126. Pimpinella rubescens (Franch.) H.Wolff ex Hand.-Mazz.
127. Pimpinella schimperi Dawit
128. Pimpinella schweinfurthii Asch.
129. Pimpinella serbica (Vis.) Benth. & Hook.f. ex Drude
130. Pimpinella sikkimensis C.B.Clarke
131. Pimpinella silvatica Hand.-Mazz.
132. Pimpinella silvicola Hemp
133. Pimpinella sintenisii H.Wolff
134. Pimpinella smithii H.Wolff
135. Pimpinella squamosa Karjagin
136. Pimpinella stracheyi C.B.Clarke
137. Pimpinella × subnigra Tzvelev
138. Pimpinella tagawae M.Hiroe
139. Pimpinella tenuicaulis Baker
140. Pimpinella thellungiana H.Wolff
141. Pimpinella tibetanica H.Wolff
142. Pimpinella tirupatiensis N.P.Balakr. & Subr.
143. Pimpinella tomentosa Dalzell ex C.B.Clarke
144. Pimpinella tongloensis P.K.Mukh.
145. Pimpinella tragioides (Boiss.) Benth. & Hook.f. ex Drude
146. Pimpinella tragium Vill.
147. Pimpinella tripartita Kalen.
148. Pimpinella triternata Diels
149. Pimpinella tunceliana Yıld.
150. Pimpinella turcomanica Schischk.
151. Pimpinella urbaniana Fedde ex H.Wolff
152. Pimpinella urceolata Watt ex Banerji
153. Pimpinella valleculosa K.T.Fu
154. Pimpinella villosa Schousb.
155. Pimpinella wallichiana (Miq.) Gandhi
156. Pimpinella wallichii C.B.Clarke
157. Pimpinella woodii C.C.Towns.
158. Pimpinella xizangensis R.H.Shan & F.T.Pu
159. Pimpinella yunnanensis (Franch.) H.Wolff
160. Pimpinella zagrosica Boiss. & Hausskn.

Culinary and Medicinal Uses

Pimpinella species have a long history of use in both culinary and medicinal traditions. As mentioned earlier, anise is a popular spice used in various cuisines around the world. Its seeds are used to flavor baked goods, desserts, and savory dishes, and its essential oil is used in the production of liqueurs.

Other Pimpinella species, such as Burnet-saxifrage and Greater Burnet-saxifrage, have been used traditionally for their purported medicinal properties. These species were believed to have diuretic, astringent, and anti-inflammatory properties and were used to treat a variety of ailments, including digestive problems, respiratory issues, and skin conditions.

It is important to note that while some Pimpinella species have a long history of traditional use, scientific research on their medicinal properties is limited. More studies are needed to confirm their efficacy and safety.

Pimpinella in the Modern World

Despite their long history of use, Pimpinella species are not as widely known or cultivated as some other members of the Apiaceae family, such as carrots, parsley, and celery. However, there is growing interest in these plants, both for their culinary potential and their potential medicinal benefits.

As research continues to shed light on the chemical composition and biological activity of Pimpinella species, we may see a resurgence in their popularity. Their delicate beauty, combined with their culinary and medicinal potential, makes them a fascinating group of plants worthy of further exploration.

I, for one, am eager to learn more about this intriguing genus and to witness its potential contributions to the world of food and medicine.