Thaspium trifoliatum

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Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Apiales
Family: Apiaceae
Genus: Thaspium
Species:
T. trifoliatum
Binomial name
Thaspium trifoliatum

Thaspium trifoliatum, commonly called meadow-parsnip[1] or purple meadow-parsnip[2] 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.[3] It has a broad natural habitat, which includes mesic to dry forests and woodlands, prairies, bluffs, and rock outcrops.[4][5]

Description

Thaspium trifoliatum is an herbaceous perennial growing 30–91 cm (1–3 ft) tall. It has a few basal leaves that are about 3–10 cm (1–4 in) across and heart-shaped. Stem leaves are alternate and trifoliate, with 3 lanceolate to ovate-lanceolate leaflets measuring 3–5 cm (1–2 in) long.[6] The leaflets are finely serrate with a notably white-translucent margin.[4]

The inflorescence is a compound, flat umbel with very small flowers at the end of the upper stems. The flower at the center of the umbel is slightly higher than the others.[7] Each umbel is 3–8 cm (1–3 in) across.[8] The flowers are golden yellow or dark maroon, produced in mid to late spring (ranging from April-June regionally).[4][5]

The yellow-flowered variety of Thaspium trifoliatum bears a striking resemblance to Zizia aptera, with which it is frequently misidentified when not in fruit.[6] Thaspium trifoliatum can be distinguished by its glabrous stem internodes (as opposed to minutely puberulent), and pedicelled central umbellet flower (as opposed to sessile).[5] 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.[5] 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.

Ecology

T. trifoliatum is a food source for caterpillars of the black swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes) and Ozark swallowtail (Papilio joanae) butterflies.[6]

References

  1. ↑ Thaspium trifoliatum Michigan Flora Online, University of Michigan Herbarium
  2. ↑ "NatureServe Explorer 2.0". explorer.natureserve.org.
  3. ↑ "Thaspium trifoliatum". County-level distribution map from the North American Plant Atlas (NAPA). Biota of North America Program (BONAP). 2014. Retrieved 15 June 2021.
  4. 1 2 3 Yatskievych, George (2006). Flora of Missouri, Volume 2. Missouri Botanical Garden Press. p. 108.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Weakley, Alan (2020). "Flora of the Southeastern United States".
  6. 1 2 3 IllinoisWildflowers Purple Meadow Parsnip Thaspium trifoliatum trifoliatum
  7. ↑ Denison, Edgar (2017). Missouri Wildflowers (Sixth ed.). Conservation Commission of the State of Missouri. p. 129. ISBN 978-1-887247-59-7.
  8. ↑ "Thaspium trifoliatum (Purple Meadow Parsnip) | North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox". plants.ces.ncsu.edu.
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