Tordylium maximum (L) Hartwort
NOMENCLATURE
Tordylium : from Greek, Dioscorides
maximum : superlative of magnus : greater.
BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION
TYPE: erect annual or biennial. HEIGHT: 130cm
STEMS: hollow or solid, ridged, short, closely appressed, deflexed bristles.
UMBELS : compound. 3-15 densely hispidulous rays 5-15 mm. Peduncle > than rays,
with short, closely appressed, deflexed bristles. Hermaphrodite.
LEAVES : outer basal simple, rest pinnate. Lower with 3-5 ovate to suborbicular, crenate
segments, cordate at base. Cauline: 5-11 ovate-lanceolate coarsely serrate segments,
cuneate at base, sometimes reduced to terminal segments. All lvs appressed-hispidulous
on both surf ces. Petiole of basal & lower cauline scarcely sheathing, upper narrow
but sheathing. Cotyledons contracted into a petiole.
BRACTS : & bracteoles 4-7 linear, hispidulous.
FLOWERS: white. Sepals 1/2 > than petals. Outer ‘petals radiate.
Styles form stylpodium. Fl..6-7.
FRUIT : 5-6 mm, elliptical, setose, dorsally compressed. Commisure broad.
Mericarp with inner part and thick rounded part. Carpophore present. Vittae solitary,
as > as fruit. Pedicels < than fruit, hispidulous. Styles stout, divergent. Stigma capitate. 2n=20.
HABITAT : grassy places.
DISTRIBUTION : native. Local in S.E. England
on Thames estuary. S.C. Europe, S.W Asia.
