West Highland Flora

Ground Elder


Aegopodium podagraria

 

Aegopodium podagraria

Photo © Carl Farmer
25 June 2003 Armadale, Skye
Central (bright white) umbel c 7 cm across

A very common and pernicious garden weed, also in woods and on shady roadsides.  Thought to be non-native, but has been in Britain a long time.  Uncommon far from habitation.

Flower diameter c 1 mm.  Flower umbels c 2-6 cm across.

ID: Leaves divided into three leaflets, these again each divided into three on the larger leaves (see bottom left picture).  Flower umbels have no lower or upper bracts.

Other features: Plant covers large areas of ground where allowed, spreading by vigorous rhizomes.  Fruit egg-shaped, c 4 mm long.

 

Aegopodium podagraria

Photo © Carl Farmer
25 June 2003 Armadale, Skye
Whole umbel c 6 cm across

  Aegopodium podagraria

Photo © Carl Farmer
15 June 2003 Portree, Skye

Left:A "whole umbel", which is made up
of "partial umbels" like the one above

 

Aegopodium podagraria

Photo © Carl Farmer
15 June 2003 Portree, Skye

 

This picture shows the ribbed stem and the
lack of lower bracts at the base of the
whole umbel.

 

Aegopodium podagraria

Photo © Carl Farmer
2 Mar 2003 Scorrybreac, Skye

Above: Young leaves, doubly trefoil

Right: Side-shoot, with upper leaves
singly trefoil and small umbels in bud.
 

  Aegopodium podagraria

Photo © Carl Farmer
15 June 2003 Portree, Skye

 

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