Peucedanum cervaria

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

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.) Cusson ex Lapeyr.
Synonyms
  • Cervaria rivini Gaertn.
  • Selinum cervaria L.
  • Athamantha cervaria (L.) L.
  • Ligusticum cervaria (L.) Vill. [1]

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.

  • Close-up of flowers of Peucedanum cervaria
  • Image from Deutschlands Flora in Abbildungen, 1796
  • Plant of Peucedanum cervaria
  • Umbel of Peucedanum cervaria, lateral view
  • Leaves of Peucedanum cervaria

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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