Smyrnium L. Smyrnium olusatrum, L.

20. Smyrnium L. View in CoL 1

Lower leaves usually 2- to 3-ternate, upper usually simple. Sepals absent. Petals yellow, lanceolate to obcordate; apex inflexed. Fruit ovoid or subglobose, didymous. Ridges slender, the marginal usually inconspicuous; vittae numerous, scattered. 1 Upper cauline leaves not amplexicaul; lamina divided

1. olusatrum 1 Upper cauline leaves amplexicaul; lamina undivided

2 Upper leaves and branches opposite; rays 15-20

3 Lobes of basal leaves cordate-ovate; lower cauline leaves cordate-ovate, dentate or shallowly lobed 2. orphanidis 3 Lobes of basal leaves oblong-cuneate; lower cauline leaves 3-partite 3. apiifolium 2 Upper leaves and branches alternate; rays 5-12

4 Stems narrowly winged on the angles; upper leaves crenate-serrate, sometimes minutely so 4. perfoliatum 4 Stems not winged on the angles; upper leaves entire, rarely shallowly denticulate 5. rotundifolium

1. S. olusatrum L. View in CoL , Sp. Pl. 262 (1753) View Cited Treatment .

Glabrous biennial 50- 150 cm. Stem stout, solid, becoming hollow when old; upper branches often opposite. Leaves dark green and shiny; basal c. 30 cm, triangular in outline, ternate; segments 1 - to 2-pinnate; lobes 10-60 mm, rhombic-ovate, crenate-dentate and sometimes lobed; cauline leaves smaller and less divided, with short, inflated petioles. Rays (3—)7— 15(— 18). Bracts and bracteoles few, small, sometimes 0. Fruit 7-8 mm, black. In = 22. 5. Europe, extending northwards to N. W. France; extensively naturalized in Britain and Ireland. Al Az BI Co Cr Ga Gr Hs It Ju Lu Sa Si Tu [Br Hb Ho].