Oenanthe aquatica (L)Poiret Fine Leaved Water Dropwort
NOMENCLATURE
Oenanthe: from Greek, ________ : oinanthe:grape like inflorescence.
aquatica: growing in water.
Dropwort: swollen tubers resemble drops, a signature in medieval
times that it opened blocked urinary tracts drop by drop.
PREVIOUS NAMES: 0.phellandrium (Lam). Phellandrium aquaticum (L).
OTHER NAMES : water fennel. horsebane.
BSBI Picture Link to Oenanthe aquatica
BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION
TYPE : erect annual or biennial. 30-150cm. Sometimes perennating by offsets. Hyd.
STATUS : poisonous. AROMA : grape like. ROOTS : of young plant tuborous.
Tubers disappearing as plant flowers. STEMS : hollow, striate, often very stout.
They change direction characteristically. H : 150cm.
UMBELS : 2-4 cm diam. Compound, terminal and leaf opposed. Rays 4-16, 1-4cm, scabrid. Peduncle
shorter than the rays. Most with Male and Hermaphrodite flowers. Partial umbels occur.
LEAVES : pale green, 2-3-4 pinnate, finely divided. Aerial : deeply lobed segments 5mm, lobes lancolate
to ovate acute, pinnatifid. Petiole with sheathing base. Lower: submerged, with filiform segments.
BRACTS : 0 or 1. Bracteoles usually 4-8 subulate.
FLOWERS : white. Petals of outer flowers sub-equal, others notched, with long inflexed point.
Calyx teeth persistent, acute, triangular. Styles form a stylopodium. Fl. 6-9.
FRUIT : 3.5-4.5mm, ovoid, cylindrical or globose or oblong-ovoid. Commisure broad, carpels
1/2 terete, 2 lateral ridges grooved or thickened, sometimes obscure. Carpophore present.
Vittae solitary in furrows. Styles < than 1/2 as > as fruit, divergent. Stigma a small knob. 2n=22*
HABITAT : mineral rich, stagnant, slow flowing waters, wet places, fens, ditches.
DISTRIBUTION : England & E. Wales, S.E. Scotland, C.Ireland. Most of Europe, E. to C.Asia
BSBI Distribution Map for Oenanthe aquatica
POISONING PRINCIPLES
Depressive, death from paralysis. Overdose of fruits causes vertigo, intoxication. Symptoms :
irritation of stomach, failure of circulation, cerebral disturbance, giddiness, convulsions, coma.
CASE : Recorded by John Ray l7thC : quoting letter from Irish physician Dr. Francis Vaughan,
"8 boys went fishing in Clonmell, Tiperary. They mistook Oenanthe aquaticum for Sium aquaticum
&ate the roots. 4-5 hours after arriving home, they had fits, 4 died, the other 3 ran stark mad, but
came to reason, anothers hairs & nails fell out. All had their speech paralysed."
MEDICINAL USES
ACTIVE INGREDIENTS : phellandrol, falcarinon. Fruits : 1-2 1/2 % ethereal oil, known
as water fennel oil, containing 80% terpene phellandrene.
PARTS : mature fruits only.
APPLICATION : bronchitis, cough, pneumonia, digestive disorders. Homeopathy only.
HISTORICAL MEDICINAL USES
Fruits in chronic pectoral affections bronchitis, pulmonary consumption, asthma, dyspepsia, intermittent.
fever, obstinate ulcers, 5-6 grains every four hours. Alcoholic essence of fruits for consumption & bronchitis. Externally root for piles.
EXTERNAL LINKS FOR Oenanthe aquatica
These links to trusted websites and institutions may provide in depth or additional information regards cultivation, chemistry, edibility, images etc. for the species. Links last updated Aug 2012.
German Wiki (GER) Plants For a Future (UK)
Bio Info (UK) Bio Images(UK)
Flora Nordica (SWE)
'Online Guide To Umbelliferae Of The British Isles' Compiled By J.M.Burton 2002
