Heracleum sphondylium, L.

Tutin, T. G., Heywood, V. H., Burges, N. A., Moore, D. M., Valentine, D. H., Walters, S. M. & Webb, D. A., 1981, Flora Europaea. Volume 2. Rosaceae to Umbelliferae, Cambridge University Press : 365

5. H. sphondylium L. , Sp. Pl. 249 (1753) .

Biennial or shortlived perennial. Stem up to 25O(-35O) cm, 4-20 mm in diameter, glabrous to strongly hispid. Leaves varying from simple and shallowly palmately lobed to pinnate with 5(-9) crenate to serrate segments, sparsely pubescent (at least on the veins) to densely hispid or softly white-tomentose beneath, subglabrous to more or less sparsely hispid above. Umbels up to 20 cm in diameter, with 15-45 rays; bracts few or 0; bracteoles usually present. Ovary glabrous to pubescent or hispid; fruit (5-)7- 10(—12) x (4-)6-8(-10) mm, elliptical or obovate to suborbicular, glabrous; vittae rather slender, up to 0-4 mm wide. 2« = 22. Throughout Europe except the extreme north and much o f the Mediterranean region. All except Az BI Co Cr Fa Is Sa Sb.

An extremely variable species, many variants of which have been given specific rank. The main geographical variants are recognized below as subspecies, but there appears to be considerable intergradation between them. Investigation of taxonomy and distribution is hampered by inadequacy of available herbarium material, and good annotated specimens are required. Some variants having short setae on the ovary may also merit subspecific rank, but further investigation is required. Variants with leaf-lobes very long and narrow occur in several subspecies and are probably best regarded as formae (see Gawlowska, Fragm. FI. Geobot. 7: 3-39 (1961)).

1 Petals white or rarely pinkish, outer radiate

2 Leaves ternate or pinnate, at least the terminal segment with a distinct petiolule

3 Larger cauline leaves usually ternate (d) subsp. montanum 3 Larger cauline leaves nearly always with 5(—9) segments

4 Upper branches usually not whorled; leaves usually

± coarsely hispid or pubescent beneath

(e) subsp. sphondylium 4 Upper branches whorled; leaves softly villous beneath, with long, soft hairs particularly on the veins

(f) subsp. verticillatum 2 Leaves not divided into separate segments, though often deeply lobed and appearing ± digitate

5Lower leaves lobed to | or less, the lobes usually rounded;

commissural vittae very slender or 0 (a) subsp. alpinum 5Lower leaves lobed to 1 or more, the lobes usually acute or acuminate; commissural vittae conspicuous

6 Plant usually less than 130 cm; leaves usually less than

30 cm, with 5-7 usually acute lobes, which are simple or with few small secondary lobes (b) subsp. pyrenaicum 6 Plant more than 130cm, robust; leaves up to 50cm with

7-9 ±long, acute lobes, which are usually again conspicuously acutely lobed (c) subsp. transsiivanicum 1 Petals ± greenish or yellowish, outer not or scarcely radiate

7 Leaves not divided into segments, though often deeply lobed and appearing digitate (g) subsp. orsinii 7 Leaves ternate or pinnate, at least the terminal segment with a distinct petiolule

8 Larger cauline leaves usually with 5(-9) segments, each divided into usually acute lobes (i) subsp. sibiricum 8 Larger cauline leaves usually ternate, each segment divided into usually rounded or acuminate lobes (h) subsp. tematum