Thaspium trifoliatum
| Thaspium trifoliatum | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Apiales |
| Family: | Apiaceae |
| Genus: | Thaspium |
| Species: | T. trifoliatum
|
| Binomial name | |
| Thaspium trifoliatum (L.) A.Gray
| |
Thaspium trifoliatum, commonly called meadow-parsnip,[1] is a species of flowering plant in the carrot family (Apiaceae). It is native to eastern North America where it is found in many eastern U.S states (excluding the region of New England) and in Ontario, Canada.[2] It has a broad natural habitat, which includes mesic to dry forests and woodlands, prairies, bluffs, and rock outcrops.[3][4]
Description[]
Thaspium trifoliatum is an herbaceous perennial. Its leaflets are finely serrate with a notably white-translucent margin.[3] It produces golden yellow or dark maroon flowers in mid to late spring (ranging from April-June regionally).[3][4]
The yellow-flowered variety of Thaspium trifoliatum bears a striking resemblance to Zizia aptera, with which it is frequently misidentified when not in fruit.[5] Thaspium trifoliatum can be distinguished by its glabrous stem internodes (as opposed to minutely puberulent), and pedicelled central umbellet flower (as opposed to sessile).[4] Maroon-flowered populations are more easily recognized as Zizia aptera is strictly yellow.
Taxonomy[]
Two varieties have often been recognized. However, some botanists have expressed uncertainty on which characters should be used to distinguish them, or even if they should be taxonomically recognized at all.[4] The most widely used differentiation is based on solely flower color:
- Thaspium trifoliatum var. aureum Flowers yellow. Widespread throughout much of eastern North America.
- Thaspium trifoliatum var. trifoliatum Flowers maroon. Found primarily from the Appalachian Mountains eastward, with disjunct populations westward in the Ozark Mountains.
References[]
- ^ Thaspium trifoliatum Michigan Flora Online, University of Michigan Herbarium
- ^ "Thaspium trifoliatum". County-level distribution map from the North American Plant Atlas (NAPA). Biota of North America Program (BONAP). 2014. Retrieved 15 June 2021.
- ^ a b c Yatskievych, George (2006). Flora of Missouri, Volume 2. Missouri Botanical Garden Press. p. 108.
- ^ a b c d Weakley, Alan (2020). "Flora of the Southeastern United States".
- ^ IllinoisWildflowers Purple Meadow Parsnip Thaspium trifoliatum trifoliatum
- Apiaceae