Wild Parsnip, Pastinaca sativa
Family: Apiaceae; Parsley Family
Vegetative Characteristics:
Seedling: cotyledons narrowly elliptical; basal leaves oblong-elliptic to ovate, pinnate or bipinnate, coarsely toothed or lobed, glabrous or short pubescence, petiolate
Stems: erect, 0.3-2.0 m tall, stout, hollow, angled, ridged, sparsely branching, glabrous or short trichomes
Leaves: rosette or alternate on stem, 5.0-55.0 cm long, simple or pinnately or bipinnately compound, oblong-elliptic to ovate, glabrous or pubescent, petiolate; leaflets lanceolate-ovate or orbicular, 0.1-20.0 cm long, margins coarsely toothed or lobed, tip rounded or narrowed to blunt point, sessile
Reproductive Characteristics:
Inflorescences: terminal and axillary umbels, 6-15 or more; terminal umbel shorter than two lateral umbels; lateral umbels alternate or opposite; sepals inconspicuous or absent; petals 5, ovate, yellow or reddish-tinged
Fruits: schizocarp, broadly elliptical to oblong, 5.0-8.0 mm long, 3.0-6.0 mm wide, flattened, glabrous, tan or light greenish brown, oil tubes reddish brown, between ribs
Seeds: mericarps 2, slender, 5-ribbed, slightly winged
Special Identifying Characteristics:
⇒ erect, aromatic biennial; rosette and stem leaves pinnate or bipinnate, umbels terminal and axillary; flowers yellow to yellow- and reddish-tinged, petals 5
