Water-parsley (Sium suave, Fl. Carol.: 115 (1788))

Family: Apiaceae

Author: Walter

Bibliography: Fl. Carol.: 115 (1788)

Year: 1788

Status: accepted

Rank: species

Genus: Sium

Vegetable: False

Observations: Temp. Asia, Subarctic America to U.S.A.

Description

Water-parsley, known by its botanical name Sium suave, is a perennial aquatic plant meticulously documented in botanical literature, including notably in “Flora Caroliniana” (1788) by botanist Thomas Walter. This plant belongs to the Apiaceae family, best recognized for its members which often possess aromatic properties and umbrella-like flower clusters.

Sium suave thrives in wetland environments and is widespread across temperate regions of Asia as well as subarctic areas extending to the United States. Its adaptability to a variety of moist habitats makes it a common sight in marshes, along stream banks, and in other wet, low-lying areas where its fibrous roots are well-nourished.

The plant features compound leaves that are finely dissected, giving them a delicate, lacy appearance. In bloom, Water-parsley produces clusters of small, white flowers that are typical of the Apiaceae family, arranged in umbels that can be quite striking. The flowering period often spans from midsummer to early autumn, making it an important constituent of the summer and early fall wetland flora.

The utility of Water-parsley extends beyond its ecological role in stabilizing soil and providing habitat for wildlife. Historically, Sium suave has also been noted for its use in traditional medicine, although such uses should be approached with caution and further researched due to the potential toxicity of some parts of the plant.

In summary, Sium suave, or Water-parsley, is a vital part of the wetland ecosystems across a broad expanse of the northern hemisphere. Its presence signifies healthy, undisturbed wetlands and it plays a significant role in the ecology of these areas.

Common Names

Eng: hemlock water-parsnip, hemlock waterparsnip, water-parsley, water-parsnip, common water-parsnip, water parsnip, fragrant water-parsnip
Fra: berle douce, berle suave
En: Water-parsley, Water-parsnip, Hemlock water-parsnip, Hemlock waterparsnip, COMMON WATERPARSNIP, Common water-parsnip, Water parsnip, Fragrant water-parsnip
Zh: 泽芹, 細葉零餘子
Fr: Berle douce, Berle suave
Ko: 개발나물
Zh-tw: 細葉零餘子
Zh-hant: 澤芹

Synonyms

• Sium heterophyllum (Greene)
• Falcaria dahurica (DC.)
• Sium cicutifolium var. lineare (H.Wolff)
• Sium nipponicum (Maxim.)
• Sium cicutifolium var. heterophyllum ((Greene) Jeps.)
• Critamus dauricus (Hoffm.)
• Sium cicutifolium var. brevifolium (Peck)
• Sium cicutifolium var. carsonii (Stevens)
• Cicuta davurica ((Hoffm.) Fisch. ex F.Dietr.)
• Sium rugosum (Raf.)
• Sium suave var. floridanum ((Small) C.F.Reed)
• Sium turfosum (H.Wolff)
• Sium ovatum (Yatabe)
• Drepanophyllum lineare ((Michx.) Koso-Pol.)
• Sium suave f. nipponicum ((Maxim.) Hiyama)
• Sium suave var. nipponicum ((Maxim.) H.Hara)
• Sium suave var. ovatum ((Yatabe) H.Hara)
• Apium lineare ((Michx.) Alph.Wood)
• Sium californicum (Baill.)
• Sium suave f. angustifolium ((Kom.) Kitag.)
• Sium floridanum (Small)
• Sium suave f. latifolium ((Kom.) Kitag.)
• Sium nipponicum var. ovatum ((Yatabe) Y.Yabe)
• Sium lineare (Michx.)
• Sium lineare var. intermedium (Torr. & A.Gray)
• Sium formosanum (Hayata)
• Sium cicutarium (W.H.Baxter)
• Sium tenuifolium (Muhl.)
• Sium suave f. carsonii (Fassett)
• Sium suave f. fasciculatum (Fassett)
• Sium cicutifolium (Schrank)
• Siumis heterophyla (Raf.)
• Drepanophyllum heterophyllum ((Greene) Koso-Pol.)
• Apium cicutifolia ((Schrank) Benth. & Hook.f. ex F.B.Forbes & Hemsl.)

Distribution

• Alabama (native)
• Alaska (native)
• Alberta (native)
• Amur (native)
• Arizona (native)
• Arkansas (native)
• British Columbia (native)
• Buryatiya (native)
• California (native)
• China North-Central (native)
• Chita (native)
• Colorado (native)
• Connecticut (native)
• Delaware (native)
• District of Columbia (native)
• Florida (native)
• Georgia (native)
• Idaho (native)
• Illinois (native)
• Indiana (native)
• Inner Mongolia (native)
• Iowa (native)
• Irkutsk (native)
• Japan (native)
• Kamchatka (native)
• Kansas (native)
• Kentucky (native)
• Khabarovsk (native)
• Korea (native)
• Krasnoyarsk (native)
• Labrador (native)
• Louisiana (native)
• Maine (native)
• Manchuria (native)
• Manitoba (native)
• Maryland (native)
• Masachusettes (native)
• Michigan (native)
• Minnesota (native)
• Mississippi (native)
• Missouri (native)
• Mongolia (native)
• Montana (native)
• Nebraska (native)
• Nevada (native)
• New Brunswick (native)
• New Hampshire (native)
• New Jersey (native)
• New Mexico (native)
• New York (native)
• Newfoundland (native)
• North Carolina (native)
• North Dakota (native)
• Northwest Territorie (native)
• Nova Scotia (native)
• Nunavut (native)
• Ohio (native)
• Ontario (native)
• Oregon (native)
• Pennsylvania (native)
• Primorye (native)
• Prince Edward I. (native)
• Québec (native)
• Rhode I. (native)
• Sakhalin (native)
• Saskatchewan (native)
• South Carolina (native)
• South Dakota (native)
• Taiwan (native)
• Tennessee (native)
• Texas (native)
• Tuva (native)
• Utah (native)
• Vermont (native)
• Virginia (native)
• Washington (native)
• West Siberia (native)
• West Virginia (native)
• Wisconsin (native)
• Wyoming (native)
• Yakutskiya (native)
• Yukon (native)

Additional Images

Leaf

Taken Jul 12, 2021 by Kal Soong (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 8, 2021 by Danielle Mccloy (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 3, 2022 by Renée-Louise Lamontagne (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 8, 2021 by Danielle Mccloy (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 9, 2019 by Connor Connor Vara (cc-by-sa)

Flower

Taken Aug 9, 2019 by Connor Connor Vara (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 12, 2021 by Kal Soong (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 8, 2021 by Danielle Mccloy (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 3, 2022 by Renée-Louise Lamontagne (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 12, 2021 by Kal Soong (cc-by-sa)

Other

Taken Sep 14, 2022 by Joseph Littlehorn (cc-by-sa)

Habit

Taken Jan 1, 1900 by EOL − Qwert1234 (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jan 1, 1900 by EOL − Qwert1234 (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 18, 2014 by EOL − Aarongunnar (cc-by-nc)

Taken Jan 1, 1900 by EOL − Kenpei (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 6, 2013 by EOL − Robert L Curtis (cc-by-nc-sa)

Bark

Taken Jan 1, 1900 by EOL − John Hilty (cc-by-nc)

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Sources

• WFO (No URL)
• IPNI (No URL)
• GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/3034526)
• POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:849061-1)
• PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Sium suave Walter)

Specifications

Growth habit>: Forb/herb

Growth