Oenanthe lachenalii (C.C. Gmelin)
Parsley Water-Dropwort
NOMENCLATURE
Oenanthe: see 0. crocota.
lachenalli : after W. Lachenal, 18thC botanist.
Dropwort : see 0. aquatica.
BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION
TYPE: glabrous perennial, 100cm.ROOTS: tuberous, cylindrical or fusiform.
STEM: solid, striate, old develop small cavity.
UMBELS: compound with 5-9(20) smooth rays 1-3cm. Peduncle > than rays. Male &
hermaphrodite. Latter flowers decrease in number on later laterals. Partial umbels present.
LEAVES: lower (1)2(3) pinnate, long petiolate, soon withering, the lobes 10-20mm, linear
to spathulate or rarely narrowly obovate, entire or sometimes pinnatifid. Upper 1-2
pinnate, with linear to linear-lanceolate lobes 15-50mm. Petiole < than blade.
Cotyledons contracted into a petiole.
BRACTS : 5, subulate or linear-lanceolate. Bracteoles 5-7, oblong-lanceolate, acute.
FLOWERS : outer petals radiating. Styles form a stylopodium.
Styles < than fruit, divergent or recurved. Fl. 6-9.
FRUIT : 2.5mm, ovoid, commisure broad. Mericarps with prominent
slender ridges. Carpophore present. Vittae solitary. 2n=22*.
HABITAT : marshes & fens, often near coast, brackish places in lime rich water.
DISTRIBUTION : native, British Is. Absent N. Scotland. W. Europe.
E., to Poland & Yugoslavia. Very rare in Algeria.
POISONING PRINCIPLES: see O. aquatica.
