Practical
Plants

Apium australe

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Genus
Apium
Life cycle
perennial
Height
0.6 m
Fertility
self fertile
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Flies, Self

Uses

Toxicity

Toxicity warning. The historical record reports a hazard for this plant. Do not use it to decide which parts are safe to eat or use medicinally.

Skin contact with the sap is said to cause photo-sensitivity and/or dermatitis in some people[2].

Edible uses

Leaves - raw or cooked[3]. A salty taste, it is used as a flavouring in soups etc. Used like celery[3]. The leaves can also be eaten raw but have a very strong flavour. Root[3]. No further details. Seed - used as a flavouring in soups etc.

Plant part
Leaves
Plant part
Root
Plant part
Seed

Material uses

Used for pads to make canoes watertight[3].

Product or use
Waterproofing

Environment

Range
Southern S. America.
Habitat
Damp places in all more or less open coastal habitats, less commonly in wet places inland to elevations of 75 metres in Tierra Del Fuego and north latitude to 35°s[3].
Shade tolerance
partial shade
Water
moderate
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant
Salinity
tolerant

Propagation

Seed - sow spring in a greenhouse. Germination can take a month or longer. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out in the summer. Division in spring.

Cultivation

We have very little information on this species and do not know if it will be hardy in Britain, though judging by its native range it should succeed outdoors in many parts of this country. Plants are likely to prefer a rich moist soil with some shade in the summer. The crushed leaves smell strongly of celery[1]. The New Zealand form of this plant is now known as A. filiforme, (syn A. prostratum filiforme [q.v.]). The Australian form of this plant has been moved to A. prostratum and only the S. American form is left under this name[K].

References

  1. Low. T. Wild Food Plants of Australia. Angus and Robertson. 1989-00-00 ISBN 0-207-14383-8

    ↩

  2. Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S. Medicinal Plants of China Reference Publications, Inc. 1985-00-00 ISBN 0-917256-20-4

    ↩

  3. Moore. D. M. Flora of Tierra del Fuego. Anthony Nelson. 1983-00-00 ISBN 0-904614-05-0

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