Food Plants International

246
Names
English: Celery Scientific name: Apium graveolens var dulce L., (Mill.)D.C.
Tok pisin: Synonyms: Apium dulce Mill.
Tok ples: Plant family: Apiaceae
Description: A herb up to 1 m high. It has leaf stalks
with ridges and they are like a half circle when cut
across. The plant is strong smelling. The plant is
smooth and hairless. The leaves are divided into a
compound leaf. The wild plant has leaves in tufts from
the base or spread along creeping stems. The flowers
are white and in small compound arrangements where
each flower is on a stalk from the same point.
Distribution: It is a warm temperate plant. It is mainly
grown in the highlands in the tropics. It grows up to
about 2100 m altitude. It is damaged by frost. It often
grows naturally in swampy conditions. In the tropical
lowlands it grows as a small leafy plant but can be used
for flavouring. It requires a rich sandy loam soil.
Because celery has shallow roots it needs plenty of
moisture and does best in humus rich soils.
Cultivation: Plants are mostly grown from seed and transplanted. To produce white stalks, the
plant is wrapped up or soil is mounded up around the plant. Newer varieties will naturally form
whiter stalks. Plants should be grown close together to keep sunlight off the stalks. This applies
especially for the naturally whitening (blanching) varieties. The stalks are cut before the plant
flowers.
Production: Leaf stalks take about 9 months from seed until harvest.
Use: The leaf stalks are eaten raw or used to flavour foods.
The leaves can also be used for flavouring.
The dry ripe fruit can be used for flavouring. e.g. in salt.
Food Value: Per 100 g edible portion
Edible part Moisture Energy Protein Calcium Iron proVit A proVit C Zinc
% KJ g mg mg µg mg mg
Leaf stalks 94.6 67 0.8 0.4 13 7 0.1
Leaves 95.7 88.2 0.6 0.4 13 5 0.1
Insects:
Oribius destructor Mshl. Curculionidae (COL) Shot hole weevil
Oribius inimicus Mshl. Curculionidae (COL) Shot hole weevil
Thysanoplusia orichalcea Fabricius Noctuidae (LEP)
Diseases:
Septoria leaf spot Fungus Septoria apiicola
Pests:
Importance: Plants are fairly commonly seen in highland markets in Papua New Guinea.