Conopodium is a genus comprising small, perennial herbs. The leaves are compound, and the smooth, arching stems can reach heights of up to 1 meter, bearing clusters of small white flowers. The tubers resemble chestnuts and are edible, commonly referred to as pignuts.

Conopodium

Conopodium bourgaei

Conopodium bunioides

Conopodium capillifolium

Conopodium majus, commonly known as pignut, thrives in wooded areas, hedgerows, and grasslands. This plant features finely cut, carrot-like leaves that present a mid-green color at the base. During the spring and summer months, it produces clusters of small white flowers arranged in umbels, with stems typically growing to under 30 cm tall. The round, small tuber of this species serves as a food source for both badgers and human foragers.