Molopospermum

Taxa treated:
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 © Flora Nordica

by Lars Fröberg
(6a, 20081016)

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Molopospermum W.D.J. Koch

Koch, Gen. Pl. Umbell.: 8 (1814).

Molopospermum peleponnesiacum (L.) W.D.J. Koch   map

Koch, Gen. Pl. Umbell.: 108 (1824). – Ligusticum peleponnesiacum L., Sp. pl.: 250 (1753). – Type: Burser Herbarium VIII: 60 (UPS) lectotype, sel. by Ullman in Flora, Morphol. Geobot. Oekophysiol. 179: 268 (1987).
F vuorikirveli. S alpkörvel.
Lit.: Hess et al. (1970, ill.).
Hemicryptophyte (perennial). Plant glabrous, 1 m or more, with the primary umbel at the top of the stem and 2–4 branches with secondary umbels below. Stem hollow, straight; middle part c. 10 mm thick, ± terete, not purplish, slightly glaucous. Leaves very large; blade 2–3-pinnate, 40 × 35 cm (length/width ratio c. 1). Primary leaflets 2–3 pairs; angle leaflet/rachis 35–45°; longest petiolules 4.5–6 cm. Ultimate leaflets 2–3-pinnatifid, with up to c. 15 pairs of lobes/teeth; petiolule 4–5mm; blade 14–15 × 9–10 cm (length/width ratio 1.4–1.7); base truncate to cordate; margin flat, not papillose. Ultimate lobes 8–14 × 1.4–3.2 mm (length/width ratio 4–5.7); apices acute to acuminate, with whitish tips.
Umbels convex; peduncle 15 cm; rays straight or inwards-curved, 4.3–5.5 cm, glabrous or minutely papillose and with distinct ridges on the adaxial side. Bracts 6–10, persistent, 10–28 × 1.8–2.5 mm; border distinctly mebranous. Umbellules 15–32; pedicels 0.1–0.6 cm, glabrous or minutely papillose on the adaxial side. Bractlets 2–4, persistent, 5–12 × 1.5–2 mm; border distinctly membranous. Flowers 9–30 per umbellule, very slightly zygomorphic; sepals 2–5 mm; petals whitish, 2–2.2 × 0.7–0.8 mm, entire, inflexed; filaments c. 3 mm; anthers 0.8–0.9 mm. Fruit oblong in outline, not flattened, straw-coloured; carpophore filiform, divided to the base. Mericarps 9–12 × 3–4 × 2.5–3 mm (length/width ratio 2.8–3); ridges 5 (3 dorsal and 2 ventral), the dorsal ones distinct and equally high, each with a narrow (0.2–0.3 mm wide) wing; valleculae narrow, each with 1 dark brown vitta visible on the surface; stylopodium conical, 0.6–0.8 mm wide; style 1.5–2.5 mm long, rather thick, directed outwards to deflexed. – Mid-summer.
[2n=44]

Distribution and habitat. A rarely grown ornamental with some tendency to escape and become established. – S Sk Osby 1981 (garden relic), Vg Stora Lundby, known since 1995 (perhaps established in woodland slope outside garden, increasing), Fristad 1967, Ög Skeda 1999 (abandoned park), Vsm Arboga 1979 (garden and roadside). F U Kirkkonummi 1930 (river bank). – The Alps and Pyrenees.[1] Försök till omskrivning:
A rarely grown ornamental with some tendency to escape and become established. S Sk Osby 1981 (garden relic), Vg Stora Lundby 1995–99 (established in woodland slope outside garden, increasing), Fristad 1967, Ög Skeda 1999 (former park), Vsm Arboga 1979 (garden and roadside). F U Kirkkonummi 1930 (river bank). – The South Alps and Pyrenees.

References To top

Hess, H.E., Landolt, E. & Hirzel, R. 1970: Flora der Schweiz 2. Basel.

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