Family: Apiaceae
purple meadow-parsnip, smooth meadow-parsnip
[Thaspium aureum (L.) Nutt., more...]
Margery Melgaard
Kitty Kohout
University of Wisconsin - Madison (WIS-VP)
Etymology: Thaspium: like Thapsia referring to island of Thapsus, a peninsula on Sicily, now Magnisi
Plants: erect, perennial, 12"-32" tall forb, mostly smooth and with only a few branches; stems hollow, ridged
Leaves: basal leaves usually not divided, widely-oval with a heart-shaped base; upper leaves pinnately-divided with 3-5 finely toothed leaflets
Flowers: yellow, 5-parted, all flowers stalked; inflorescence 1"-3" compound, long-stalked umbels with 6-10 small umbellets on irregular stalks; blooms May-June
Fruits: dry, elliptical, 3/4 as long as wide including the broad wings, splitting into 2 seeds
Habitat: woods
Conservation Status: Special Concern
Plants: erect, perennial, 12"-32" tall forb, mostly smooth and with only a few branches; stems hollow, ridged
Leaves: basal leaves usually not divided, widely-oval with a heart-shaped base; upper leaves pinnately-divided with 3-5 finely toothed leaflets
Flowers: yellow, 5-parted, all flowers stalked; inflorescence 1"-3" compound, long-stalked umbels with 6-10 small umbellets on irregular stalks; blooms May-June
Fruits: dry, elliptical, 3/4 as long as wide including the broad wings, splitting into 2 seeds
Habitat: woods
Conservation Status: Special Concern
Floristic Rating: Coefficient of Conservatism = 8 WIS DNR-Bureau of Endangered Resources: Detailed information on Wisconsin listed species including state and federal status, photos, etc. Atlas of the Wisconsin Prairie and Savanna Flora: by T.S. Cochrane & H.H. Iltis: habitat, distribution infomation / flowering and fruiting times USDA Plants Database: Federal Distribution and detailed information including photos
Kitty Kohout
