Family: Apiaceae
Apium prostratum var. filiforme
Citation:
in Roehi., Deutschl. Fl. edn 3, 2:25, 433 (1826).
Synonymy: Petroselinum filiforme A. Rich. in P. Lesson & A. Rich., Voy. Astrolabe Bot. 1:278 (1832); A. filiforme (A. Rich.)Hook., Hook. 1c. 9:t. 819 (1851).
Common name: None
Description:
Erect stoloniferous glabrous perennial herbs of wet places, often growing in water; stems hollow, striate, branched; leaves petiolate, pinnate; leaflets serrate or lobed, or if submerged in stagnant water 3- or 4-pinnate; petioles sheathing.
Umbels compound, pedunculate, terminal and axillary, often leaf-opposed; involucral bracts narrow, entire or toothed; rays rather few, spreading; involucel of conspicuous bracteoles; pedicels spreading; sepals minute, subulate; petals obovate, with a narrow inflexed apex, white; stylopodium conical.
Fruit suborbicular, laterally compressed; carpophore split to the base, its halves adnate to the 5-angled (in transection) mericarps; ribs filiform, obtuse, only slightly prominent; pericarp with a thick corky layer of equal thickness under ribs, valleculae and commissure; vittae numerous, contiguous at inner layer of pericarp, not visible from the outside.
Published illustration:
Labillardière (1805) Nov. Holl. Pl. Sp. 1:t. 103; P. Short (1979) J. Adelaide Bot. Gard. 1:208, figs 1.1-9.
Distribution:
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A genus with 2 species, 1 of the Northern Hemisphere, 1 of Africa. 1 species naturalised in eastern temperate Australia.
S.Aust.: FR, EA, EP, NL, MU, YP, SL, KI, SE. W.Aust.; Qld; N.S.W.; Vic.; Tas. New Zealand.
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Flowering time: Jan. — April.
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Biology:
The 2 strikingly distinct varieties are linked by intermediates.
Taxonomic notes:
Derived from berle, the French vernacular name for the plant.
Author:
Not yet available
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