Peucedanum cervaria

Peucedanum cervaria is a herbaceous plant in the genus Peucedanum belonging to the carrot family Apiaceae.

Peucedanum cervaria
Umbel of Peucedanum cervaria
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Asterids
Order:	Apiales
Family:	Apiaceae
Genus:	Peucedanum
Species:	P. cervaria
Binomial name
Peucedanum cervaria (L.) Cusson ex Lapeyr.
Synonyms
Cervaria rivini Gaertn. Selinum cervaria L. Athamantha cervaria (L.) L. Ligusticum cervaria (L.) Vill. [1]

Description

Peucedanum cervaria reaches on average 40–120 centimetres (16–47 in) in height, with a maximum of 150 centimetres (59 in). The stems are cylindrical, glabrous and erect. They are more or less branched and the leaves are slightly blue-green and two to three times pinnatifid. The large umbels have 9 to 30 rays bearing small white flowers. The flowering period extends from July through September in their native habitat.^[2]

This plant has its overwintering buds situated just below the soil surface (hemicryptophyte) and an almost leafless stalk growing directly from the ground (scapose).^[3] The fruits are oval, about 4 to 6 mm long and 3 to 4 mm wide, with narrow marginal ridges.

Distribution

This plant is a sub-Mediterranean species widespread in southern and central Europe, from Spain, Italy and the Balkan Peninsula up to central Russia.^[4]

Habitat

Peucedanum cervaria grows singly or in loose groups on light-rich, chalky, dry places, occasionally in semi-arid grassland, at an altitude of 0 to 1,200 metres (0 to 3,937 ft) above sea level.

Gallery

• 
  Close-up of flowers of Peucedanum cervaria
• 
  Image from Deutschlands Flora in Abbildungen, 1796
• 
  Plant of Peucedanum cervaria
• 
  Umbel of Peucedanum cervaria, lateral view
• 
  Leaves of Peucedanum cervaria