Oenanthe fistulosa L. Tubular Water-Dropwort
NOMENCLATURE
Oenanthe: see 0. crocota.
fistulosa: pipe like, tubular. Dropwort : see 0. aquatica.
BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION
TYPE: glabrous, stoloniferous perennial. Hel or Hs.
ROOTS: tuberous, fusifrom. Lower nodes rooting.
STEMS: 0.5cm diam, fistular, constricted at nodes, striate, slender. HEIGHT : 30-80cm.
UMBELS: compound. 2-4 rays, 1-3cm, stout, spreading, thickening after flrng. Peduncle >
than rays. Terminal hermaphrodite, some male. Lateral all male. Partial umbels 1cm
diam., dense, flat. topped in flr., globose in fruit, pedicels thicken after flring.
LEAVES: 1-3 pinnate, oblong to lanceolate outline. Basal leaves 2-pinnate, submerged, soon
withering. Segments shortly stalked, lanceolate, lobed. Cauline 1-pinnate, entire lobes 0.5-2cm,
linear-lanceolate or subulate, distant. Petioles of cauline fistular, > than blade. Cotyledons
contratced into a petiole. BRACTEOLES: 7-16 linear, < than pedicels.
FLOWERS : white or pink. Sepals acute, persistent. Outer petals radiating,
unequal. Styles form a stylopodium. Fl. 7-9.
FRUIT: 3-4mm. obconical to cylindrical. Commisure broad. mericarps with inflated corky
ridges. Carpophore present. Vittae solitary. Styles > as fruit, erect slender, diverging.
Stigma a small knob. 2n=22*
HABITAT: marshy places and shallow water.
DISTRIBUTION: native. E. England. Local in Scotland & Wales,
E. Ireland. Rare in W. Europe. W.Asia. N.W. Africa.
POISONING PRINCIPLES: see 0. aquaticum. Contains oenathin.
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