SMYRNIUM OLUSATRUM

Family and Genus:- See- UMBELLIFERAE

Common Names:- Alexanders

Homotypic Synonyms:- Smyrnium maritimum, Smyrnium vulgare.

Meaning:- Smyrnium (Gr) With the fragrance of myrrh.

Olusatrum (L) A name used by the Roman naturalist and philosopher

Pliny, for a black-seeded pot-herb.

General description:- Tall, pungent, hairless biennial.

Stem:-

1) To 1.5 m., stout, becoming hollow when old, the upper branches usually

opposite.

Leaves:-

1) Basal, c. 30 cm, triangular in outline, ternate. segments 1- to 2-pinnate;

a) lobes, 10-60 mm, rhombic-ovate, crenate-dentate and sometimes lobed.

2) Cauline, smaller and less divided, with short, inflated petioles.

a) upper, smaller than the lower and less divided, not amplexicaul. chrome

yellow.

Flowers:-

1) In dense rounded umbels, 3-15 rays, yellow,

2) Bract, absent from the base of the rays.

Fruit:-

1) Achenes, from 7-8 mm long, ribbed, oval to almost spherical, black when ripe.

Key features:-

1) Upper cauline leaves, not amplexicaul.

2) Bract, absent from the base of the rays.

Click here for a glossary of terms used

Habitat:- Seasonally damp, shady, nutrient-rich habitats in gorges, villages,

wasteground, olive groves and roadsides. 0-500(-800) m.

Distribution:- Scattered throughout Greece at low altitudes. - W Europe and the

Mediterranean area, Fairly widespread across Crete.

Flowering time:- Mar-May.

Photos by:- Steve Lenton