Bur parsley

Short Description

The bur parsley can grow up to 80 cm high. The plant smells strongly aromatic when crushed. The smell is reminiscent of spruce needles.

The leaves sit singly and alternately on the stem. They are split three to four times in sub-divisions (3- to 4-pinnate). At the base of the leaf (leaf sheath) they have a thin membrane and white hairs.

The stem is erect, round and often purple below.

The small white flowers are arranged together in an inflorescence that is called double umbel. This means that each side branch of an umbel ends in another, smaller umbel. The flowers often have petals of different sizes.

The fruit is splitted into two parts and is ovate, dark brown and densely covered with small hooks.

In the city

In the city, bur parsley is often found along traffic and footpaths, on industrial sites and in fields. It prefers warm, semi-shaded sites with sandy soils. Although it is otherwise a rather rare plant species, bur parsley grows frequently in the city.