Peucedanum cervaria

Peucedanum cervaria
Umbel of Peucedanum cervaria
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Asterids
Order: Apiales
Family: Apiaceae
Genus: Peucedanum
Species: P. cervaria
Binomial name
Peucedanum cervaria
(L.) Lapeyr.
Synonyms
  • Cervaria rivini Gaertn.
  • Selinum cervaria L.
  • Athamantha cervaria (L.) L.
  • Ligusticum cervaria (L.) Vill. [1]

Peucedanum cervaria is a herbaceous plant in the genus Peucedanum belonging to the carrot family Apiaceae.

Description

Peucedanum cervaria reaches on average 40–120 centimetres (16–47 in) in height, with a maximum of 150 centimetres (59 in). The stems are cylindrical, glabrous and erect. They are more or less branched and the leaves are slightly blue-green and two to three times pinnatifid. The large umbels have 9 to 30 rays bearing small white flowers. The flowering period extends from July through September in their native habitat.[2]

This plant has its overwintering buds situated just below the soil surface (hemicryptophyte) and an almost leafless stalk growing directly from the ground (scapose).[3] The fruits are oval, about 4 to 6 mm long and 3 to 4 mm wide, with narrow marginal ridges.

Distribution

This plant is a sub-Mediterranean species widespread in southern and central Europe, from Spain, Italy and the Balkan Peninsula up to central Russia.[4]

Habitat

Peucedanum cervaria grows singly or in loose groups on light-rich, chalky, dry places, occasionally in semi-arid grassland, at an altitude of 0 to 1,200 metres (0 to 3,937 ft) above sea level.

References

  1. ↑ Botany.cz
  2. ↑ Pignatti S. - Flora d'Italia – Edagricole – 1982, Vol. II, p. 232
  3. ↑ Altervista
  4. ↑ Tutin, T.G. et al. - Flora Europaea, second edition - 1993 Peucedanum
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