Pacific Hemlock-parsley
Conioselinum gmelinii (Cham. & Schlecht.) Steud. (C. chinense auct. non [L.] B.S.P., C. chinense [L.] B.S.P. var. pacificum [S. Wats.] Boivin, C. pacificum [S. Wats.] Coult. & Rose)
overview
Usually hairless, sometimes glaucous, perennial from a short, stout rhizomatous stem-base with a cluster of fleshy roots or a single tap-root; single stem, leafy, 20-120 cm tall. Leaves all on the stem, egg-shaped to deltoid in outline, two to three times pinnately dissected, with lobed or cleft leaflets, leaf stalks sheathing at the base. Flowers white, small, numerous in 8-30 small compact heads in one to several compound umbels; involucral bracts one to few, linear in shape, or lacking. Fruits oblong-oval, 5-8 mm long, hairless, ribbed with the lateral ribs having broad, thin wings (Pojar and MacKinnon, 1994).
family
Apiaceae
ecological setting
Common on gravelly beaches, sandy shores, upper tidal marshes, grassy bluffs and headlands, mostly along or near the coastline (Pojar and MacKinnon, 1994).
soil texture
Light textured sandy and loamy soils (Fern, 2000).
soil reaction salinity
Fairly wide range of soil reactions from acidic to alkaline. Can tolerate salinity (Fern, 2000).
moisture regime
Moist to wet (Fern, 2000).
shade tolerance
Shade intolerant to mildly tolerant. Requires full sun (Fern, 2000).
successional status
bec zone subzone status
Occurs on grassy bluffs and rocky headlands within Garry oak ecosystems.
site rehabilitation
Potential reclamation species for erosion control on moister disturbed sites.
wildlife
Browsed by deer, elk, moose and bear. Flowers attract butterflies.
landscaping
Potential garden ornamental for the moist sunny garden.
first nations
Known as wild carrot or Indian carrot. Cooked and eaten historically by coastal Aboriginal Peoples, though not apparently used now. Leaves used to make a tonic for the treatment of colds and sore throats and in steam baths to treat rheumatism (Pojar and MacKinnon, 1994; Turner, 1995).
flowering time
May to August
fruit ripening time
July to September
seed collection time
Late summer once dark stripes are apparent on fruit.
crop intervals
Annual
no seeds per kg
167,550
seed viability
collection and abstraction
Collect seed as soon as ripe by hand stripping. Clean by drying and fanning.
seed storage
Store in airtight containers at 2º C. Can be stored for up to three years.
fruit seed dormancy treatment
No dormancy treatments are necessary. Leach seeds in tap water for four hours before sowing. Sow stored seeds in fall or early spring. As soon as plants are large enough to handle, prick out into separate pots (Fern, 2000).
additional info and photos
For more information and pictures, visit the E-Flora BC website at www.eflora.bc.ca.