Slender Celery
Cyclospermum leptophyllum (Pers.) Sprague
Synonyms - Apium leptophyllum, Apium ammi
Family: - Apiaceae.
Names:
Apium is the Latin name for celery.
Slender celery - because it has very thin leaves and is in the celery family.
Summary:
An open annual herb with slender, erect, hairless stems to 70 cm with feathery leaves and compound umbels of 3-7 small white flowers in spring.
Description:
Cotyledons:
Two.
Leaves:
Alternate.
Petiole - base is broadened and papery on the edges. Upper leaves may have no petiole.
Blade - 20-40 mm long. Alternately divided into very narrow cylindrical segments less than 0.5 mm wide. Feathery.
Stems:
Erect, slender, hairless, 300-700 mm long, hollow, grooved.
Flower head:
Compound umbel without a common stalk. 2-3 slender branches. Appear to be in pairs or threes. In upper axils or at the end of the stem.
Flowers:
White. Very small. Usually without stalks.
Bracts - None at the base of the peduncle.
Ovary -
Sepals - None.
Petals - Broad, incurved tip.
Stamens -
Anthers -
Fruit:
Almost globular, flattened. 1.5-2 mm long. Dark when ripe. Made of 2 fruitlets with 5 obvious ribs.
Seeds:
Small.
Roots:
Key Characters:
No bracts at the base of the peduncles. Fruit almost covered by corky ribs. Feathery leaves.
Biology:
Life cycle:
Annual. Flowers in summer.
Physiology:
Reproduction:
Flowering times:
Summer in SA and NSW.
Seed Biology and Germination:
Vegetative Propagules:
Hybrids:
Allelopathy:
Population Dynamics and Dispersal:
Origin and History:
America.
Distribution:
ACT, NSW, NT, QLD, SA, VIC, WA.
Habitats:
Disturbed or cultivated ground, wet areas and water courses.
Climate:
Temperate.
Soil:
Disturbed wet areas.
Plant Associations:
Significance:
Beneficial:
Fodder.
Detrimental:
Weed of pastures, cultivation, gardens and disturbed areas.
May taint milk.
Toxicity:
None reported. May taint milk.
Legislation:
None.
Management and Control:
Thresholds:
Eradication strategies:
Herbicide resistance:
Biological Control:
Low priority because of the closely related economic plants.
Related plants:
None in the Cyclospermum genus.
Celery (Apium graveolens)
Celeriac (Apium graveolens var. rapaceum)
Sea Celery (Apium prostratum)
Plants of similar appearance:
Bishops weed (Ammi majus) is very similar but has bracts at the base of peduncles (flower stalks).
References:
Auld, B.A. and Medd R.W. (1992). Weeds. An illustrated botanical guide to the weeds of Australia. (Inkata Press, Melbourne). P73-74. Photo.
Black, J.M. (1965). Flora of South Australia. (Government Printer, Adelaide, South Australia). P663.
Burbidge, N.T. and Gray, M. (1970). Flora of the Australian Capital Territory. (Australian National University Press, Canberra). P287-288.
Cunningham, G.M., Mulham, W.E., Milthorpe, P.L. and Leigh, J.H. (1992). Plants of Western New South Wales. (Inkata Press, Melbourne). P540. Photo.
Lamp, C. and Collet, F. (1990). A Field Guide to Weeds in Australia. (Inkata Press, Melbourne).
Lazarides, M. and Hince, B. (1993). CSIRO handbook of economic plants of Australia. (CSIRO, Melbourne). #315.1.
Acknowledgments:
Collated by HerbiGuide. Phone 08 98444064 or www.herbiguide.com.au for more information.