Romanian Cuisine Codexery

Hrean

Last updated

Horseradish is a tall plant with large leaves and a white tapered root that is cultivated for its pungent flavor.[1] Its sharp taste comes from allyl isothiocyanate, a compound released when the root is crushed.[2] The word "horseradish" first appeared in print in 1597 in John Gerarde's English herbal.[3]

Scientific classification

  1. CladeTracheophytes
  2. CladeAngiosperms
  3. CladeEudicots
  4. CladeRosids
  5. OrderBrassicales
  6. FamilyBrassicaceae
  7. GenusArmoracia
  8. SpeciesArmoracia rusticana

Named by G.Gaertn., B.Mey. & Scherb.

Sources: Wikipedia taxobox: Horseradish (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Conservation status

Least Concern (LC)

  1. LC▲ this species
  2. NT
  3. VU
  4. EN
  5. CR
  6. EW
  7. EX
Population trend
Not held in our sources — see the assessment
Assessment published
2011

Source: IUCN Red List assessment

Where the hrean has been recorded

Where the hrean has been recorded14 mapped locations from 128,443 GBIF occurrence records

Each dot is a place where the species has been observed and reported (128,443 records, half-degree grid) — not a modelled range. 506 inland records left out (institution coordinates).

Map: drawn by Codexery. Data: GBIF occurrence search (records CC0 / CC BY) · Natural Earth basemap (public domain)

Quick Facts

Species
Armoracia rusticana
Family
Brassicaceae
Native region
Southeastern Europe and Western Asia
Key compound
allyl isothiocyanate

Facts from the source article.

Key facts and history

Horseradish has been cultivated since antiquity.[4] Pliny the Elder recommended it for medicinal qualities under the name Amoracia.[5] Dioscorides' writings refer to the plant using two names: Persicon sinapi and Sinapi persicum.[4] Medieval traditional medicine employed both the roots and leaves of the plant.[6]

In Germany, Scandinavia, and Britain, the root served as a condiment for meat dishes.[6] European colonists brought the plant to North America.[6] Garden records from George Washington and Thomas Jefferson include references to horseradish.[6] Among Native American uses were stimulating glands, preventing scurvy, and treating colds through diaphoresis.[6]

The Collinsville area of Illinois has the highest concentration of horseradish cultivation.[7]

What the cited sources add

The Huntsinger Farms account notes that horseradish is a member of the mustard family, not a radish.[3] The account explains that bottled horseradish is hottest the day it is ground.[3] It advises storing prepared horseradish in a tightly covered jar in the refrigerator or freezer.[3] Fresh roots may be stored for several months in polyethylene bags at 32 F to 38 F.[3]

The account recommends grinding fresh horseradish in a well-ventilated room.[3] It provides a recipe using 2 to 3 tablespoons of white vinegar and 1/2 teaspoon of salt per cup of grated horseradish.[3] According to one source, grated horseradish root that is fresh spoils very quickly.[3]

References

  1. Wikipedia, "Horseradish" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Stace, "New Flora of the British Isles", C & M Floristics, 2019; "Flora of North America, Armoracia rusticana P. Gaertner, B. Meyer & Scherbius, Oekon. Fl. Wetterau. 2: 426. 1800"; "Flora of China, Armoracia rusticana P. Gaertner et al."; Altervista Flora Italiana, Rafano rusticano, Meerrettich, Armoracia rusticana P. Gaertn., B. Mey. & Scherb. includes photos and European distribution map; "Biota of North America Program 2014 county distribution map"; Stace, "New Flora of the British Isles", C & M Floristics, 2019; Stace, "New Flora of the en.wikipedia.org
  2. Wikipedia, "Horseradish" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Blažević, "Glucosinolate structural diversity, identification, chemical synthesis and metabolism in plants", Phytochemistry, 2020 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
  3. "Horseradish Facts", Huntsinger Farms. facts only, no text reused. huntsingerfarms.com
  4. Wikipedia, "Horseradish" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Early Modern translators of Dioscurides offered various names.; Pliny the Elder, "The Natural History", H. G. Bohn, 1855 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
  5. Wikipedia, "Horseradish" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Courter, "Historical notes on horseradish", Economic Botany, April–June 1969, p. 156–164 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
  6. Wikipedia, "Horseradish" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Leighton, "American Gardens in the Eighteenth Century: For Use or for Delight", Houghton Mifflin Co., 1976, p. 431; Lyle, "The Complete Guide to Edible Wild Plants, Mushrooms, Fruits, and Nuts: How to Find, Identify, and Cook Them", FalconGuides, 2010, p. 153–154 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
  7. Wikipedia, "Horseradish" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Walters, "Horseradish Production in Illinois", HortTechnology, 2010-04-01, p. 267–276 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org

Each numbered sentence above was checked against the source it cites before publication. Sentences citing Wikipedia adapt text from the English Wikipedia article Horseradish (contributors), used under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is available under the same licence. Other sources were used for facts only; no text or images are copied from them.

Related entries

Brassicaceae

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Sources

Compiled from Wikipedia and the sources listed below. Text from Wikipedia is available under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is adapted from it.

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