Torilis japonica (Houtt)DC. Upright Hedge Parsley
NOMENCLATURE
Torilis : see T. arvensis.
japonica : of Japan
PREVIOUS NAMES : T. anthriscus (L) C.C. Gmelin. Caucalis anthriscus (L) Hudson.
OTHER NAMES : devil’s night cap, (Warw). Scabby head, (Ches). Honiton lac,
(Dev). Hogweed, (Glos) Lace flower, lady’s lace, red kex, (Som).
BSBI Picture Link to Torilis japonica
BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION
TYPE :: shortly appresed hispid annual .50-l20cm. Th.
STEMS : solid, striate, hairs appressed, deflexed.
UMBELS : compound. 1.5-4 cm diameter. Rays 4-13, unequal, 0.5-2cm long; Hairs appressed,
forward pointing. Peduncle > than rays, with appressed deflexed hairs. Hermaphrodite only.
LEAVES : 1-3 pinnate, lobes 1-3cm, ovate to lancolate, pinnatifid or coarsely serrate. Appressed
forward point bristles, both surface.Petiole with slender deflexed appressed bristles. Branches from
leaf axil arise vertically. Cotyledons tapered at base, no petiole.
BRACTS : 4-6(12) = rays, linear, hispid, unequal. Bracteoles, several, linear to
lanceolate, hispid, length equalling pedicels.
FLOWERS : pink or purple white. Minute. Petals heart shaped, inflexed, hispid
beneath. Outer petals > than inner male. Sepals short pointed, broad, acute, persistent.
Peduncles lateral & terminal. Styles spread, persist, lengthen & diverge after
fertilization. Styles form stylopodiium. Fl.7-9.
FRUIT : 3-3.5mm, oval, subterete, spines curved forward, pointing. Styles glabrous,
recurved in fruit. Commisure narrow. Mericarps with slender glabrous ridges, & rough
tapering forward curved spines. Carpophore present. Vittae solitary. Pedicels with ring of hairs
at apex. Styles 3x > than stylopodium, recurved, glabrous. Stigma capitate. Seed distribution :
hooked bristles attach to animals. 2n=16.
HABITAT : roadside, hedges, grassy places. rough grassland, scrub.
Light dry soil.
DISTRIBUTION : native <400m. Common British Isles. Europe but not North.
Temperate Asia, N. Africa, Japan. Introduced to N. America.
BSBI Picture Link to Torilis japonica
RELATED SPECIES
Caucalis platycarpos (L) Small Burt Parsley. As T. japonica but, annual, spiny
fruits, no bracts, rarely 1-2 small ones. Outer petals radiating. F1.6-7. 2n=20. Formerly occured
as weed in arable fields. Extremely rare now.
Turgenia latifolia (L.) Hoffm, Great Bur Parsley. As T.japonica but, annual, (2) 3-5 bracts, outer
petals strongly radiating. Fl.6-7. 2n=20. Formerly as weed in arable fields. Extremely rare now.
EXTERNAL LINKS FOR Torilis japonica
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 (EU) Plants For a Future (UK)
Bio Info (UK) National Center for Biotechnology Info (USA)
APHOTOFLORA (UK)
Wisconsin Dep of Natural Resources (USA)
'Online Guide To Umbelliferae Of The British Isles' Compiled By J.M.Burton 2002
