Scientific name: Ciclospermum leptophyllum (Pers.) Brit. & Wils.Synonyms: Apium leptophyllum (Pers.) F. Muell; Pimpinella leptophylla Pers.; Cyclospermum leptophyllum (Pers.) Sprague.Common names: Slender celery, wild carrotFamily: ApiaceaeOrigin:Native of the Americas, now a cosmopolitan weed. Habit:Annual herb with slender branches reaching up to 70 cm high with finely divided leaves. Habitat:Weed of tended areas such as gardens, foot paths, cultivation. Its distribution is mainly in coastal areas. General description:Stems and leavesStems are green and ridged longitudinally. The leaf blade is highly reduced so that only the tissue around the main veins remains leaving a 2-pinnatasect (highly divided) leaf. Leaves are up to 10 cm long and 0.5-1.0 mm broad. Leaves are soft in texture. Flowers and fruitFlowers are small and white, arranged in heads. The ovoid fruits are 1-3 mm long with 5 distinct longitudinal ridges with an oil canal in each of the furrows. The fruit separates into 2 seeds that are light to dark brown, hump shaped and ribbed. Flowering occurs spring to early summer. Distinguishing characteristics:Finely divided carrot-like leaves. Small white flowers clustered into heads. Noxious status:Not noxious. Sources:Kleinschmidt, H.E., Holland, A. and Simpson, P. (1996). Suburban Weeds. 3rd Edition. Department of Primary Industries, Brisbane. Stanley, T.E. and Ross, E.M. (1983-1989). Flora of South-eastern Queensland. Volume 2. Department of Primary Industries, Brisbane. Anonymous. (1994). Queensland Vacsular Plants: Names and Distribution. Queensland Herbarium, Brisbane. |