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Myrrhis odorata (L.) Scop. map ill.
Scopoli, Fl. Carn. ed. 2, 1: 207 (1772). – Scandix odorata L., Sp. pl.: 256 (1753). – Type: Linnaean Herbarium 364.1 (LINN) lectotype, sel. by Reduron, Nord. J. Bot. 22: 85 (2002).
D Sødskærm. F saksankirveli. I spánarkerfill. N spansk kjørvel. S spansk körvel.
Hemicryptophyte (perennial). To 100(–120) cm, with a scent of anise (both root, leaves and unripe fruits); taproot to 35 mm thick. Stem hollow, often with subopposite branches in upper part; basal part 5–13 mm thick, terete or angled, not or slightly purplish, not or slightly glaucous, glabrous or sparsely to densely pubescent; upper internodes angled to slightly sulcate. Leaves 3–5 at the base and 4–5 on the stem, the innermost basal or the lowest stem leaf is the largest one; sheath rather broad, usually not purplish; petiole 13–26 cm; blade (2–)3(–4)-pinnate, 18–45 × 21–47 cm (length/width ratio 0.7–1.2), soft, both sides densely pubescent. Primary leaflets 5–6 pairs; angle leaflet/rachis 60–75°; longest petiolules 2–55(–80) mm. Ultimate leaflets 3(–4)-pinnatifid, with (10–)12–19 pairs of lobes/teeth; petiolule 4–14 mm; blade 41–79 × 21–52 mm (length/width ratio 1.2–2.2); base shortly attenuate to shallowly cordate. Ultimate lobes 1.1–2.9(–3.8) × 0.6–1.9(–2.5) mm (length/width ratio 1.2–2.5); apex acute to acuminate, with white tips.
Umbels rather narrow, flat, 4.5–8 cm high and 4–6.5 cm wide; peduncle 0.5–4 cm; rays straight, 2.2–5 cm, pubescent all around or sometimes glabrous. Bracts 0(–8). Umbellules 10–19; pedicels 0.4–0.9(–1.2) cm, thin and glabrous (male or sterile flowers) or thicker and glabrous to pubescent all around (female flowers). Bractlets 5–6(–8), usually persistent; 8–13(–18) × 1.2–2.5 mm, thin and translucent except for the midvein; margin ciliate. Flowers distinctly zygomorphic, (16–)22–36 per umbellule; petals white, 1.9–4.3 × 1.3–3.2 mm, bifid (apical cut 0.6–1.4 mm deep); filaments (1.7–)2–3.3 mm; anthers 0.4–0.5 mm. Fruit lanceolate to narrowly oblong in outline, slightly laterally flattened, olive-brown to dark brown, glossy, often with a few bristles in the upper part; carpophore flattened, almost entire. Mericarps 16.5–24 × 2.2–3 × 2.2–2.9 mm (length/width ratio 6.9–10.4); ventral groove indistinct; beak indistinct or disappearing at maturity; ridges 5, high triangular in cross section; valleculae narrow, with no vittae visible on the surface; stylopodium high-arched, 0.5–0.8 mm wide; style 1.8–3 mm, directed outwards to slightly deflexed. – Late spring to early summer.
[2n=22]
Distribution. Nem–SBor. – Grown as a spice and medicinal plant mainly during the 18th and 19th centuries; in D and S Sk probably archaeophytic, further north perhaps not spread until the first half of the 19th century; still increasing at the end of 20th century. – D common to scattered on the islands, ØJy and NJy; less common in the rest of Jylland. N Ak Oslo, He Hamar, Op Vestre Toten, Østre Toten, Te Tokke; along the coast from AA Tvedestrand to NT Steinkjer (scattered in Ho); Tr Tromsø and Kvaløya (becoming established). S common to scattered north to southern Vrm, southern and eastern Vsm and Upl but fairly rare in Gtl; further north rare and probably casual, reaching southeastern Dlr and coastal Hls; Ång Skog (park; Mörner 1935). F cultivation strongly favoured in the latter half of the 18th century in the southwestern part then belonging to Sweden; in this area rather common in A, scattered in eastern V and western U and EH, with more isolated localities in St (Eura, Köyliö, Pori, Rauma, Vammala), ES (Joutsa), PH (Saarijärvi, Viitasaari), PS (Leppävirta) and OP (Oulu 1989); very few finds (***) from the eastern part annexed to Russia in 1743.. I introduced, rare to scattered in the coastal provinces.
Mountains of S and C Europe. Escaped from cultivation in W and N Europe.
Habitat. On fairly dry, nutrient-rich and mull-rich, bare soil, preferably in half shade but also in full sun. A frequent relic in parks and abandonded gardens; often spread with seeds and expanding to form large stands e.g. at farms, roadsides and stone fences. Also in less heavily disturbed habitats, such as glades and margins of deciduous woodland, but rarely far from settlements.
Biology. Umbellules of primary and secondary umbels have 3–5 large female flowers, the others are sterile or male; tertiary umbels have male flowers only.
Variation. Some specimens, mainly in the southern parts of the distribution area, have broad-lobed leaves, with the lobes almost covering each other.
Similar taxa see Anthriscus sylvestris.
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