Bupleurum rotundifolium (L) Thorow-Wax
NOMENCLATURE
Bupleurum: see B. baldense.
rotundifolium: round leaved.
Thorow-Wax: Turners description in Names Of Herbs, 1548:
"The stalke waxeth throwe the leaves."
OTHER NAMES: buplevers, hare’s ear.
BSBI Picture Link to Bupleurum rotundifolium
BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION
TYPE: erect glabrous, glaucous annual. Th.
STEMS: hollow, smooth, purplish tinged. H: 30cm
UMBELS: 1-3cm diam, compound. with 4-8 smooth, unequal rays up to 1cm long,
unequal. Peduncle as long as the rays. Flowers terminal.
LEAVES: 2-5cm, simple, elliptic-ovate to suborbicular, apiculate, with cartilaginous margin.
Lower attenuate into a petiole, the rest perfol iate. Veins numerous, slender, radiating from
the base, anastomising near the margin & connected by slender cross veins elsewhere.
Cotyledons tapered towards base, no petiole.
BRACTS: bracteoles : 5, 5-12 mm, unequal, ovate to oblancolate, acuminate, patent in flower,
connivent in fruit, shortly connate at base. Venation similar to the leaf. Green margins.
FLOWERS: Yellow. Hermaphrodite. Styles form stylopodium. Fl.6-7.
FRUIT: 3-3.5 mm, elliptic-oblong, pruniose, laterally compressed. Commisure broad. Mericarps
with slender, prominent ridges. Carpophore present. Vittae present. Pedicels 1mm. Styles 0.2-0.3mm,
< than stylopodium. Stigma truncate. Seed 0.0043 gms. Blackish colour. 2n=16.
HABITAT: arable fields, waste ground, dry places. Chalky soil.
DISTRIBUTION: introduction. Dependant on repeat introduction with cereal seed, now scarce.
Widespread in S.E. England. Native to Belgium, France, Germany. N.America. N. Africa.
Australia. New Zealand. Naturalised in Holland.
BSBI Distribution Map for Bupleurum rotundifolium (UK)
EXTERNAL LINKS FOR Bupleurum rotundifolium
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.
Wikipedia (GER) Plants For a Future (UK)
National Center for Biotechnology Info (USA)
APHOTOFLORA (UK)
Somerset Rare Plants Group (UK)
'Online Guide To Umbelliferae Of The British Isles' Compiled By J.M.Burton 2002
