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Bunium bulbocastanum L. map ill.
Linnaeus, Sp. pl.: 243 (1753). – Carum bulbocastanum (L.) W.D.J. Koch. – Type: Burser Herbarium VIII:78 (UPS) lectotype, sel. by Reduron & Jarvis, Regnum Veg. 127: 27 (1993).
D Jordkastanie. N maakastanja. N knollkarve. S jordkastanj.
Literature. Johansson 1983, Karlsson 1993.
Geophyte. Perennial, glabrous herb, to 80 cm. Tuber 1–11 cm below ground, globose to elongated, 20–30(–42) × (15–)20–26(–30) mm. Stem 1–2.5 mm thick at the insertion to the tuber, and 2–4 mm thick at ground level, usually solid, but sometimes subsequently hollow; basal part terete, straw-coloured or rarely slightly purplish, and glaucous; upper internodes angular to sulcate. Leaves 4–7 on the stem (basal leaves withering before anthesis); the lowest one is the largest; sheath narrow, rarely tinged with purple; petiole 5–10 cm; blade once or twice pinnate, 3.5–7.5 × 2.7–5 cm (length/width ratio 1.2–1.6). Primary leaflets 1–2 pairs; angle leaflet/rachis 35–55°. Ultimate leaflets 2–3-pinnatifid, with 4–5 pairs of lobes; petiolule 3–11(–17) mm; blade 16–24(–40) × 9–18 mm (length/width ratio 1.2–2.2); base usually cordate; tips acuminate or sometimes acute, usually purplish. Ultimate lobes 4.1–6.2(–8) × 0.9–1.8 mm, with a length/width ratio of 3.2–6.2 (in upper leaves more elongated, 11–23 × 0.9–2.5 mm, with a length/width ratio of 6.5–14).
Umbels almost flat, 3–4 cm high and 6–8 cm wide; peduncle 8.5–17 cm; rays bent slightly outwards, 3–4.5 cm, glabrous or indistinctly papillose on the adaxial side. Bracts 5–10, persistent, 5.5–14 × 0.7–1.3 mm, entire; border membranous. Umbellules 9–14; pedicels 0.6–1.2 mm, distinctly papillose on the adaxial side. Bractlets 6–10, persistent, 2.5–6.5 × 0.4–1 mm; border usually membranous. Flowers not or slightly zygomorphic, 15–22 per umbellule; sepals 0.1–0.25 mm; petals white or occasionally pale pink, 0.9–1.7 × (0.7–)1–1.7 mm, emarginate to bifid (apical cut 0.2–0.6 mm deep); filaments 0.9–1.7 mm; anthers 0.4–0.55 mm. Fruit ovate to elliptic in outline, slightly laterally flattened; carpophore almost entire. Mericarps 2.6–4 × 0.7–1 × 0.6–1 mm (length/width ratio 3.2–4.4); ridges 5, straw-coloured, in cross section low to indistinct; valleculae wide, each with 1 dark brown vitta; stylopodium conical, 0.4–0.5 mm wide; style 0.6–1.1 mm, directed outwards or deflexed. – Early summer to mid-summer.
Distribution and habitat. Nem.–BNem. – A grass seed alien; parks, fields, roadsides, railways etc.; first Nordic record S Gtl Västerhejde 1862; established at least in D and S Öl and Gtl. -- D resident but fairly rare in Sjæ and ØJy, elsewhere rare; VJy Tørring 1919, Sejrup 1929. N Ho Ullensvang 1935–39 (grassland). S Sk Balkåkra 1890, Gärdslöv 1888–90, Lund 1983, Öved 1996 (pasture), Öl 6 localities in southern to central parts, established at Högsrum (recorded 1935–75), Gtl 12 well spread localities, established in Västerhejde (recorded 1862–1965), Klm Åby 1984–94 (field margin), Loftahammar (garden weed at least 1972–96, perhaps established), Upl Uppsala 1961–64 (rose hedge). F EH Hattula 1901 (oat field). – A record from S Ög Dagsberg (Genberg 1977, Lind 1993) is due to confusion with Chaerophyllum prescottii.
Native to Europe from C Mediterranean north to S England, Netherlands and Germany; an uncertain record from NW Africa.
Similar taxa. Bunium bulbocastanum is similar to Conopodium majus. Both have a rounded tuber below the ground level and the subterranean part of the stem narrowed at the insertion, but C. majus lacks bracts, and has a stylopodium which is gradually narrowing into the upwards directed styles. In Peucedanum palustre the root is elongated and branched, the stem is distinctly purplish at the base and ± sulcate, the leaves are larger and more divided, the rays are distinctly papillose, and the mericarps have lateral wings (not developed at anthesis). – See also Chaerophyllum bulbosum.
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