Helosciadium nodiflorum
Fool's Water-cressNova Acta Phys.-Med. Acad. Caes. Leop.-Carol. Nat. Cur. 12: 126 (1824)
Taxonomic status
Accepted
Occurrence status
Present
Origin
Introduced
Degree of establishment
Naturalised
Semi-aquatic or aquatic perennial to 1.5 m high, rooting at lower nodes. Leaves with 3–17 pinnae, to 70 cm long and 10 cm wide; pinnae ovate to lanceolate, 1–4 cm long, to 2.5 cm wide, serrate or crenate, sometimes lobed. Umbels 2–4 cm diam.; rays 4–14, 2–3 cm long; bracts 0–2; bracteoles 4–8, narrowly lanceolate, equalling or exceeding pedicels, margins white. Fruit ovoid, 1.5–2.5 mm long. Flowers Nov.–Feb.
VVP, GipP. Also naturalised NSW. Native to Europe, northern Africa and western and central Asia.
In weedy urban streambanks north of Melbourne (e.g. Merri, Darebin, and Moonee Ponds Creeks).
This species is often confused with Berula erecta which has 4–7 bracts at the base of the umbels.
Created by: Daniel
Ohlsen,
18 Aug. 2016
Updated by: Val
Stajsic,
16 Jun. 2021
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