Apium nodiflorum

Apium nodiflorum
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Asterids
Order: Apiales
Family: Apiaceae
Genus: Apium
Species: A. nodiflorum
Binomial name
Apium nodiflorum

Apium nodiflorum, (synonym Helosciadium nodiflorum) commonly called fool's-water-cress[1] is a flowering plant found in ditches or streams and native to western Europe. It is a low-growing or prostrate perennial with pinnate leaves which have a vague resemblance to those of watercress. Apium nodiflorum has short-stalked umbels of very small white 5-petalled flowers which are opposite the leaves and grow from the side of the stem at the leaf axils. It blooms in July and August.[2][3]

It is not a poisonous plant, but it could be easily confused with the allegedly poisonous lesser water parsnip – Berula erecta. It is common throughout England, Wales and Ireland but is much less so in Scotland.[4]

Helosciadium nodiflorum, closeup of umbel flowers.

References

  1. ↑ "BSBI List 2007". Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland. Archived from the original (xls) on 2015-02-25. Retrieved 2014-10-17.
  2. ↑ Fool's-water-cress Wild flowers of Ireland. Accessed July 2011 Apium nodiflorum Fool's-water-cress]
  3. ↑ Apium nodiflorum (Fool's-water-cress) Online Atlas of British and Irish Flora. Accessed July 2011
  4. ↑ Apium nodiflorum Peter Llewellyn Wild Flowers of the British Isles, Accessed 2011
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