OPOPANAX HISPIDUS

Family and Genus:- See- UMBELLIFERAE

Common Names:- None

Homotypic Synonyms:- Ferula hispida, Pastinaca opopanax

Meaning:- Opopanax (Gr) Panacea, sap that is all healing.

Hispidus (L) Bristly, with stiff hairs.

General description:- Robust, tall perennial.

Stem:-

1) 1-2.5 m tall, stout and solid, with ± whorled branches in the upper part.

Leaves:-

1) Large, divided, with oval-lanceolate, lobes, up to 12 cm long, cordate or

cuneate at the base.

a) upper, simple, sometimes reduced to an inflated leaf-stalk.

2) Petiole and underside of the leaf with short, stellate hairs.

Flowers:-

1) Umbels, large, greenish-yellow, with 6-13 rays;

2) Bracts, few, bristle-like.

Fruit:-

1) 7-10 mm, compressed dorsally, broadly elliptic-obovate, with pale, slightly

thickened wings, 1.5-2 mm wide.

Key features:-

1) Fruit, 7-10 mm, with pale, slightly thickened wings, 1.5-2 mm wide.

Click here for a glossary of terms used

Habitat:- Dry grassland, road embankments, open scrub and abandoned terraces.

0-1500 m.

Distribution:- Throughout Greece. - Italy, Balkan Peninsula and SW Asia to

Armenia and W Iran. Scattered irregularly across Crete, but more so around the

Dikti mountain region.

Flowering time:- End of May to July.

Photos by:- Steve Lenton