Torilis arvensis (Huds.) Link ssp. recta Jury

Field Hedge Parsley; Spreading Hedge Parsley; Spreading Bur Parsley

Herb

Annual

Vascular

<p><strong>Field Hedge Parsley</strong> is an introduced herbaceous annual in the <strong>Carrot family</strong> (<strong>APIACEAE</strong>). It is native to <strong>Europe,&nbsp;</strong><strong>Asia, </strong>and<strong> Northern Africa</strong>. In Alabama it can be found primarily in the northern half of the state. <strong>Field Hedge Parsley</strong> grows on roadsides, along railroads, around the margins of fields and pastures, along the edge of woodlands, and in waste places. It is an annual with a tap root. The stems are 1-3 feet in height, branched, green in color, and appressed pubescent. Leaves are alternate, petiolate, and 2 to 3 times pinnately divided. Leaf segments are linear-lanceolate in outline, pubescent, with toothed or lobed margins. Flowers are produced in terminal and lateral compound umbels. Each compound umbel has 7-8 umbellets. The compound umbel lacks bracts at its base or has a single linear one. Each umbellet has 8 flowers and 7-8 small linear bracts at its base. Each flower has 3-9 white rays. The fruit is a mericarp covered with bristles. The fruit is at first green then becomes pinkish before turning tan or brown. <strong>Field Hedge Parsley</strong> is a larval food plant for the <strong>Black Swallowtail butterfly</strong> (<em><strong>Papilio polyxenes</strong></em>).<em>&mdash;A. Diamond</em></p>

<p>Historically, this entity has been treated in the Alabama flora as <em><strong>Torilis arvensis</strong></em>&nbsp;(Huds.) Link.&nbsp; However, morphological diversity within the species has led to multiple subspecies being described.&nbsp; The typical subspecies,&nbsp;<em><strong>Torilis arvensis ssp. arvensis</strong></em> is a&nbsp;a shorter and more highly branched taxon comparated to the robust and little branched <em><strong>Torilis arvensis&nbsp;</strong></em><em><strong>ssp. recta</strong></em>. [=<strong><em>T. helvetica</em></strong>&nbsp;(Jacquin) C.C. Gmelin]&nbsp;<strong>(Jury 1996)</strong>.--<em>B.R. Keener</em></p>

Not Native

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