Apium nodiflorum (L) Lag Fool's Watercress
NOMENCLATURE
Apium: see A. gravolens.
nodiflorum: flowering from nodes.
OTHER NAMES : brooklime, (Anglo Saxon): lime: mud. Helosciadum, (Greek).
Marshwort. Bilders, Pie cress, (Dev). Brookilme, (War). Cow cress, (Hants).
Swinecress, (Yks, Ork). Watercase, (Corn).
BSBI Picture Link to Apium nodiflorum
BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION
TYPE : glaborous, perennial. Hel. TASTE : nauseous.
STEMS : procumbent or ascending, rooting at lower nodes, flring
stems rooting at base, hollow, finely grooved.HEIGHT : 30-100cm
UMBELS : compound, sessile or shortly procumbent. 3-15, 1-2 cm rays, subequal, scabrid,
spreading or recurved (0.3) 1-2 cm. Peduncles < than rays or almost absent, leaf opposed.
LEAVES : simply pinnate, bright green, shiny. 2-4 (6) pairs of lobes, 1.5-6 (10) cm, lanceolate
to ovate, serrate or crenate somewhat lobed, sessile. Cotyledons contracted into petiole.
BRACTS : absent. Bracteoles 4-7, linear lancolate to ovate, = or > than flowers.
FLOWERS: greenish white. Styles form a stylopodium. Fl.7-8.
FRUIT : 2-2.5 mm ovoid, laterally compressed, smooth. Commisure narrow. Mericarps
with prominent thick ribs. Carpophore present. Vittae solitary. Pedicels 1-2 mm. Styles >
than stylopodium, recurved, stigma a small knob. 2n=22*
HABITAT: ditches, shallow ponds, wet places. Nutrient rich calcerous soil.
DISTRIBUTION : native, <300m. Common Britain. Rare Scot.
C.& S. Europe. W.& C. Asia. N. Africa.
BSBI Distribution Map for Apium nodiflorum(UK)
EDIBLE USES: West Country, in pies, pasties. Culpepper :
“A diet drink, mix with watercress.”
EXTERNAL LINKS FOR Apium nodiflorum
These links to trusted websites and institutions may provide in depth or additional information regards cultivation, chemistry, edibility, images etc. for the species. Links last updated Aug 2012.
Wikipedia (EU) Bio Info (UK) BIO Images (UK)
APHOTOFLORA(UK)
'Online Guide To Umbelliferae Of The British Isles' Compiled By J.M.Burton 2002