Apium nodiflorum (L) Lag Fools Watercress
NOMENCLATURE
Apium: see A. gravolens.
nodiflorum: flowering from nodes.
OTHER NAMES: brooklime, (Anglo Saxon): lime: mud. Helosciadum, (Greek).
Marshwort. Bilders, Pie cress, (Dev). Brookilme, (War). Cow cress, (Hants).
Swinecress, (Yks, Ork). Watercase, (Corn).
BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION
TYPE: glaborous, perennial. Hel. TASTE: nauseous.
STEMS: procumbent or ascending, rooting at lower nodes, flring
stems rooting at base, hollow, finely grooved.HEIGHT: 30-100cm
UMBELS: compound, sessile or shortly procumbent. 3-15, 1-2 cm rays, subequal, scabrid,
spreading or recurved (0.3) 1-2 cm. Peduncles < than rays; or almost absent, leaf opposed.
LEAVES: simply pinnate, bright green, shiny. 2-4 (6) pairs of lobes, 1.5-6 (10) cm, lanceolate
to ovate, serrate or crenate somewhat lobed, sessile. Cotyledons contracted into petiole.
BRACTS: absent. Bracteoles 4-7, linear lancolate to ovate, = or > than flowers.
FLOWERS: greenish white. Styles form a stylopodium. Fl.7-8.
FRUIT: 2-2.5 mm ovoid, laterally compressed, smooth. Commisure narrow. Mericarps
with prominent thick ribs. Carpophore present. Vittae solitary. Pedicels 1-2 mm. Styles >
than stylopodium, recurved, stigma a small knob. 2n=22*
HABITAT: ditches, shallow ponds, wet places. Nutrient rich calcerous soil.
DISTRIBUTION: native, <300m. Common Britain. Rare Scot.
C.& S. Europe. W.& C. Asia. N. Africa.
EDIBLE USES: West Country, in pies, pasties. Culpepper :
“A diet drink, mix with watercress.”
