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meadow-parsnip
Thaspium trifoliatum
Thaspium trifoliatum, commonly called meadow-parsnip or purple meadow-parsnip 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. It has a broad natural habitat, which includes mesic to dry forests and woodlands, prairies, bluffs, and rock outcrops.
From the article Thaspium trifoliatum on Wikipedia (CC BY-SA), quoted section by section
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. The leaflets are finely serrate with a notably white-translucent margin. 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. Each umbel is 3–8 cm (1–3 in) across. The flowers are golden yellow or dark maroon, produced in mid to late spring (ranging from April–June regionally). The yellow-flowered variety of Thaspium trifoliatum bears a striking resemblance to Zizia aptera, with which it is frequently misidentified when not in fruit. Thaspium trifoliatum can be distinguished by its glabrous stem internodes (as opposed to minutely puberulent), and pedicelled central umbellet flower (as opposed to sessile). Maroon-flowered populations are more easily recognized as Zizia aptera is strictly yellow.
What it does
T. trifoliatum is a food source for caterpillars of the black swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes) and Ozark swallowtail (Papilio joanae) butterflies.
== References ==
Wikipedia: “Ecology”
Where it lives
Recorded sightings
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geo-referenced records in GBIF, from museums, herbaria and field observers.
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In the stacks
Searching the stacks…
Every page naming Thaspium trifoliatum in the Biodiversity Heritage Library →
This page is assembled live from iNaturalist, GBIF, Wikipedia, the Source Library and the Internet Archive. It is not yet part of the hand-edited codex. iNaturalist taxon 127699.