Practical
Plants

Apium filiforme

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Genus
Apium
Life cycle
perennial
Height
0.3 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 and stems - raw or cooked[1]. They are used as a flavouring in soups etc. A parsley flavour, they are quite pleasant raw[1]. The seed is used as a flavouring[1].

Plant part
Leaves
Plant part
Seed

Environment

Range
New Zealand.
Habitat
By the coast and occasionally inland in lowland areas, Kermaduc, North, South and Stewart Islands[3].
Shade tolerance
partial shade
Water
moderate
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

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 probably prefer a rich moist soil with some shade in the summer. This species is sometimes known as A. prostratum filiforme, but most botanists now separate it from A. prostratum and recognize it as a distinct species, A. filiforme[3].

References

  1. Crowe. A. Native Edible Plants of New Zealand. Hodder and Stoughton 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-340-508302

    ↩1↩2↩3

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

    ↩

  3. Allan. H. H. Flora of New Zealand. Government Printer, Wellington. 1961-00-00

    ↩1↩2

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