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Anethum graveolens - L.

Dill

Author	L.	Botanical references	100, 200
Family	Umbelliferae	Genus	Anethum
Synonyms	Anethum sowa - Roxb. ex Fleming. Peucedanum graveolens - (L.)C.B.Clarke.
Known Hazards	Dill is said to contain the alleged 'psychotroph' myristicine[218]. There are also reports that dill can cause photosensitivity and or dermatitis in some people[218].
Range	W. Asia. Naturalized in Europe in the Mediterranean[100].
Habitat	Fields, waste places etc in the Mediterranean[100].
Edibility Rating	4 (1-5)	Medicinal Rating	3 (1-5)

Physical Characteristics

Annual growing to 0.75m by 0.15m.

The plant prefers light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils and requires well-drained soil. The plant prefers acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It requires moist soil.

Habitats

Cultivated Beds;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Leaves; Seed.

Edible Uses: Condiment; Tea.

Leaves - raw or cooked[2, 4, 9, 14, 21]. Used as a flavouring in salads etc[132, 183]. The leaves lose their flavour if the are cooked for any length of time and so are best used raw or added to cooked dishes only a few minutes before the cooking is complete[244]. The leaves can be harvested at any time the plant is growing, but are best just before the plant flowers[244]. Per 100g, the plant contains 253 calories, 7.2g water, 20g protein, 4.4g fat, 55.8g carbohydrate, 11.9g fibre, 12.6g ash, 1784mg calcium, 543mg phosphorus, 48.8mg iron, 451mg magnesium, 208mg sodium, 3,308mg potassium, 3.3mg zinc, 0.42mg thiamine, 0.28mg riboflavin, 2.8mg niacin and 1.5mg vitamin B6[218]. Seed - raw or cooked. Very pungent and bitter in taste[4]. It is used as a flavouring in salads, preserves etc[2, 7, 9, 21, 46, 183], its chief uses being perhaps in making dill vinegar and as a flavouring in pickled gherkins[4]. It can also be sprouted and used in breads, soups and salad dressings[183]. Per 100g, the seed contains 305 calories, 7.7g water, 14.5g fat (0.73g saturated, 124mg phytosterol and no cholesterol), 55.2g carbohydrate, 21g fibre, 6.7g ash, 1,516mg calcium, 277mg phosphorus, 16.3mg iron, 256mg magnesium, 20mg sodium, 1,186mg potassium, 5.2mg zinc, 53IU vitamin A, 0.42mg thiamine and 0.28mg riboflavin[218]. An essential oil from the seed is used as a flavouring in the food industry[46, 105]. A tea is made from the leaves and/or the seeds[183].

Composition

Figures in grams (g) or miligrams (mg) per 100g of food.

Leaves (Fresh weight)

• 253 Calories per 100g
• Water: 7.2%
• Protein: 20g; Fat: 4.4g; Carbohydrate: 55.8g; Fibre: 11.9g; Ash: 12.6g;
• Minerals - Calcium: 1784mg; Phosphorus: 543mg; Iron: 48.8mg; Magnesium: 451mg; Sodium: 208mg; Potassium: 3308mg; Zinc: 3.3mg;
• Vitamins - A: 0mg; Thiamine (B1): 0.42mg; Riboflavin (B2): 0.28mg; Niacin: 2.8mg; B6: 1.5mg; C: 0mg;
• Reference: []
• Notes: 

Seed (Fresh weight)

• 305 Calories per 100g
• Water: 7.7%
• Protein: 0g; Fat: 14.5g; Carbohydrate: 55.2g; Fibre: 21.1g; Ash: 6.7g;
• Minerals - Calcium: 1516mg; Phosphorus: 277mg; Iron: 16.3mg; Magnesium: 256mg; Sodium: 20mg; Potassium: 1186mg; Zinc: 5.2mg;
• Vitamins - A: 53mg; Thiamine (B1): 0.42mg; Riboflavin (B2): 0.28mg; Niacin: 0mg; B6: 0mg; C: 0mg;
• Reference: []
• Notes: 

Medicinal Uses

Antihalitosis; Aromatic; Carminative; Diuretic; Galactogogue; Stimulant; Stomachic.

Dill has a very long history of herbal use going back more than 2,000 years. The seeds are a common and very effective household remedy for a wide range of digestive problems. An infusion is especially efficacious in treating gripe in babies and flatulence in young children. The seed is aromatic, carminative, mildly diuretic, galactogogue, stimulant and stomachic[4, 21, 46, 165]. It is also used in the form of an extracted essential oil[243]. Used either in an infusion, or by eating the seed whole, the essential oil in the seed relieves intestinal spasms and griping, helping to settle colic[254]. Chewing the seed improves bad breath[254]. Dill is also a useful addition to cough, cold and flu remedies, it can be used with antispasmodics such as Viburnum opulus to relieve period pains[254]. Dill will also help to increase the flow of milk in nursing mothers and will then be taken by the baby in the milk to help prevent colic[254].

Other Uses

Essential; Insecticide.

The seed contains up to 4% essential oils[244]. It is used in perfuming soaps[4], medicines and as a food flavouring[244]. Some compounds of dill (d-carvone is mentioned as one of them), when added to insecticides, have greatly increased the effectiveness of the insecticides[218].

Scented Plants

Plant: Crushed

The bruised foliage has a spicy smell and taste[245].

Seed: Crushed Dried

The seed contains up to 5% essentil oils[254].

Cultivation details

An easily grown plant[4], it prefers a moderately rich loose soil and full sun[14, 27, 88]. Requires a well-drained soil[27] and shelter from the wind[200]. Tolerates a pH in the range 5.3 to 7.8. Dill is a commonly cultivated herb, especially in warm temperate and tropical zones. It is grown mainly for its edible leaves and seeds, though it is also used medicinally. There are many named varieties[142, 183]. 'Bouquet' is an American cultivar that has a prolific production of seeds[238]. The sub-species A. graveolens sowa from India has a slightly different flavour to the type species[238]. The plant quickly runs to seed in dry weather[200]. It often self-sows when growing in a suitable position[37, 88]. A good companion for corn and cabbages, also in moderation for cucumbers, lettuce and onions, but it inhibits the growth of carrots[14, 18, 20]. Dill reduces a carrot crop if it is grown to maturity near them[201]. However, the young plant will help to deter carrot root fly[201]. The flowers are very attractive to bees[14, 18, 20].

Propagation

Seed - sow April to early summer in situ and only just cover[200, 238]. The seed germinates in 2 weeks if the soil is warm. A regular supply of leaves can be obtained if successional sowings are made from May to the end of June[89, 200]. Autumn sowings can succeed if the winters are mild[4]. Dill is very intolerant of root disturbance and should not be transplanted because it will then quickly run to seed.

Cultivars

'Bouquet'

An American cultivar that has a prolific production of seeds[238].

Links

Permaculture.info Details of this plant in the Permaculture.info project, a community plant and permaculture database.

References

[2] Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications 1972 ISBN 0-486-20459-6
Lots of entries, quite a lot of information in most entries and references.

[4] Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9
Not so modern (1930's?) but lots of information, mainly temperate plants.

[7] Chiej. R. Encyclopaedia of Medicinal Plants. MacDonald 1984 ISBN 0-356-10541-5
Covers plants growing in Europe. Also gives other interesting information on the plants. Good photographs.

[9] Launert. E. Edible and Medicinal Plants. Hamlyn 1981 ISBN 0-600-37216-2
Covers plants in Europe. a drawing of each plant, quite a bit of interesting information.

[14] Holtom. J. and Hylton. W. Complete Guide to Herbs. Rodale Press 1979 ISBN 0-87857-262-7
A good herbal.

[18] Philbrick H. and Gregg R. B. Companion Plants. Watkins 1979
Details of beneficial and antagonistic relationships between neighbouring plants.

[20] Riotte. L. Companion Planting for Successful Gardening. Garden Way, Vermont, USA. 1978 ISBN 0-88266-064-0
Fairly good.

[21] Lust. J. The Herb Book. Bantam books 1983 ISBN 0-553-23827-2
Lots of information tightly crammed into a fairly small book.

[27] Vilmorin. A. The Vegetable Garden. Ten Speed Press 0 ISBN 0-89815-041-8
A reprint of a nineteenth century classic, giving details of vegetable varieties. Not really that informative though.

[37] Thompson. B. The Gardener's Assistant. Blackie and Son. 1878
Excellent general but extensive guide to gardening practices in the 19th century. A very good section on fruits and vegetables with many little known species.

[46] Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959
An excellent and very comprehensive guide but it only gives very short descriptions of the uses without any details of how to utilize the plants. Not for the casual reader.

[88] RHS. The Garden. Volume 112. Royal Horticultural Society 1987
Snippets of information from the magazine of the RHS. In particular, there are articles on plants that are resistant to honey fungus, oriental vegetables, Cimicifuga spp, Passiflora species and Cucurbits.

[89] Polunin. O. and Huxley. A. Flowers of the Mediterranean. Hogarth Press 1987 ISBN 0-7012-0784-1
A very readable pocket flora that is well illustrated. Gives some information on plant uses.

[100] Polunin. O. Flowers of Europe - A Field Guide. Oxford University Press 1969 ISBN 0192176218
An excellent and well illustrated pocket guide for those with very large pockets. Also gives some details on plant uses.

[105] Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing 1976
The most comprehensive guide to edible plants I've come across. Only the briefest entry for each species, though, and some of the entries are more than a little dubious. Not for the casual reader.

[132] Bianchini. F., Corbetta. F. and Pistoia. M. Fruits of the Earth. 0
Lovely pictures, a very readable book.

[142] Brouk. B. Plants Consumed by Man. Academic Press 1975 ISBN 0-12-136450-x
Readable but not very comprehensive.

[165] Mills. S. Y. The Dictionary of Modern Herbalism. 0
An excellent small herbal.

[183] Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9
Excellent. Contains a very wide range of conventional and unconventional food plants (including tropical) and where they can be obtained (mainly N. American nurseries but also research institutes and a lot of other nurseries from around the world.

[200] Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.

[201] Allardice.P. A - Z of Companion Planting. Cassell Publishers Ltd. 1993 ISBN 0-304-34324-2
A well produced and very readable book.

[218] Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S. Medicinal Plants of China Reference Publications, Inc. 1985 ISBN 0-917256-20-4
Details of over 1,200 medicinal plants of China and brief details of their uses. Often includes an analysis, or at least a list of constituents. Heavy going if you are not into the subject.

[238] Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. 1995 ISBN 0-7513-020-31
A very well presented and informative book on herbs from around the globe. Plenty in it for both the casual reader and the serious student. Just one main quibble is the silly way of having two separate entries for each plant.

[243] Medicinal Plants of Nepal Dept. of Medicinal Plants. Nepal. 1993
Terse details of the medicinal properties of Nepalese plants, including cultivated species and a few imported herbs.

[244] Phillips. R. & Foy. N. Herbs Pan Books Ltd. London. 1990 ISBN 0-330-30725-8
Deals with all types of herbs including medicinal, culinary, scented and dye plants. Excellent photographs with quite good information on each plant.

[245] Genders. R. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale. London. 1994 ISBN 0-7090-5440-8
An excellent, comprehensive book on scented plants giving a few other plant uses and brief cultivation details. There are no illustrations.

[254] Chevallier. A. The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants Dorling Kindersley. London 1996 ISBN 9-780751-303148
An excellent guide to over 500 of the more well known medicinal herbs from around the world.

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