Short Description
The greater water-parsnip grows up to 1.5 metres tall.
The leaves are divided into three to 13 leaflets (odd-pinnate). The leaflets are elongated and have a finely serrated margin.
The solitary growing and branched stem is angularly furrowed.
The inflorescences (double umbels) are composed of several umbrella-like branches (single umbels). They in turn consist of up to 25 very small flowers. The flowers have five white petals.
The fruits are composed of two nut-like, brown, ribbed indehiscent fruits.
Features
Greater water-parsnip
Sium latifolium
poisonous
elongated leaflets
countless tiny white flowers
In the city
The greater water-parsnip grows on nutrient-rich muddy soils on the banks of rivers and lakes. It also occurs in the reed beds of standing or slow-flowing waters with strongly fluctuating water levels. As these habitats are rare, especially in the city, it is already on the Red List of endangered plant species in many federal states in Germany, but not yet in Berlin and Brandenburg.
Fun Facts
The fruits contain the essential oil "limonene", which gives off an orange-like smell.
The essential oil in the fruits has an antibacterial effect and thus prevents the fruits from rotting. This allows them to be spread out with the water.
The plant can form aerial and submerged leaves.
The flowering period is from July to August.
It lives for several years and generally flowers and fruits annually (perennial plant).
Pollination is carried out by various insects, especially hoverflies.
- Endangerment level Germany: not endangered
Greater water-parsnip is widespread in the temperate latitudes of Europe and Asia. It is native to Germany.
Especially the roots and fruits are poisonous. They can cause vomiting and diarrhoea in humans and ungulates.
Sources
Blütenstand, Jeremy Halls, CC BY-SA 2.0 , https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sium_latifolium.jpg
Blätter, Krzysztof Ziarnek, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sium_latifolium_kz05.jpg
Habitus, Krzysztof Ziarnek, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sium_latifolium_kz.jpg
Page „Breitblättriger Merk“. : Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Date of last revision: 10.05.2018, 20:48 UTC. URL: https://de.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Breitbl%C3%A4ttriger_Merk&oldid=177320541 (Accessed: 04.09.2018).