Apium leptophyllum
Common name
slender celery
Synonyms
Ciclospermum leptophyllum (Pers.) Sprague ex Britton & P.Wilson (orth. var.), Cyclospermum leptophyllum (Pers.) Sprague ex Britton & P.Wilson
Family
Apiaceae
Flora category
Vascular – Exotic
Structural class
Herbs - Dicotyledons other than Composites
Conservation status
Not applicable
Similar taxa
Erect, glabrous, annual terrestrial herb. Stems hollow, slightly grooved, striate, up to 50 cm high. Basal leaves 3-4 pinnate or ternate, petiolate; ultimate segments linear to filiform, entire, 2-15 mm long; stem leaves similar to basal but 2-3 ternate, shortly petiolate. Umbels 1-3 cm diameter, flowers 5-petalled, 1 mm diameter. Fruit broadly ovoid, 1.5-3 mm long, dark brown; ribs broad, thickened, pale brown. (Webb et al 1988)
Flowering
July, August, September, October, November, December, January. February
Flower colours
White
Year naturalised
1869
Origin
N., C. and S. America
Etymology
apium: The ancient Latin name for celery or parsley. Believed to be derived from the Celtic word apon ‘ditch’ and refers to the watery habitat of many species
Reproduction
Reproduces by seed.
Dispersal
The seeds are fine balls that have deeply ribbed coverings. These break open when dry and shed their seed. The seed is then dispersed by the wind (Ermert and Clapp 1998).
NZPCN Fact Sheet citation
Please cite as: Ogle, C. (Year at time of access): Apium leptophyllum Fact Sheet (content continuously updated). New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. https://www.nzpcn.org.nz/flora/species/apium-leptophyllum/ (Date website was queried)