Berula erecta (Hudson) Coville Lesser Water Parsnip
NOMENCLATURE
Berula: name given by Marcellus Eiupiricus.
erecta: upright.
PREVIOUS NAMES: Sium erectum (Hudson).S.angustifoli.us (L).
OTHER NAMES: lesser slum, narrow leaved water parsnip.
BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION
TYPE : glabrous, erect or decumbent stoloniferous aquatic perennial. 30-100cm. Hel.
STEMS : hollow, grooved, striate UMBELS : compound, 3-6cm. diam. Leaf opposed,
irregular. 7-18 smooth rays 0.5-2.5 cm. Peduncle = to rays.
LEAVES 30 cm. Blue-green. Purple ring near base of leaf stem. Simply pinnate, the lower
with 5-9(14) pairs of lobes 5x2 cm, oblong, sessile, lanceolate to ovate, cuneate to
rounded, unequal at base, 1-2 serrate, or lobed, the teeth acute, cartilaginous or
rounded with a cartilaginous mucro. Lower lvs long-petiolate. Upper with short
sheathing petioles. Cotyledons contracted into a petlole.
BRACTS : 4-7, lanceolate, 3-fid or pinnatifid. Bracteoles 4-7, lanceolate or 3-fid.
FLOWERS : white. Hermaphrodite. Sepals triangular, unequal. Petals smooth beneath.
Styles form a stylopodium. Fl. 7-S.
FRUIT 1.5-2mm, subglobose, laterally compressed. Constricted in the commisure. Mericarps
with slender ridges and vittae sunk in the pericarp. Carpophore present. Pedicles 3-5 mm.
smooth. Styles recurved, > than stylopodium. Stigma capitate. 2n=20.
HABITAT : damp places, shallow water, ditches: fens, ponds, canals.
DISTRIBUTION : common in lowland districts of England, except S.W. Rare in Wales,
Scotland. Frequent C. Ireland. Most of Europe, W.Asia.
POISONING PRINCIPLES
Roots poisonous. No harm to pigs & ox, gives disagreeable taste to milk.
HISTORICAL MEDICINAL USES
Nicholas Culpepper l7thC: "The roots boiled in vinegar applied in the form of a poultice, disperses swelling or inflammation in the body, and applied to old putrid sores, cleanes and disposes them for healing. Juice is good to bathe inflamed and sore eyes, with certain cure for jaundice.”
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