Pictorial guide to the flora of the British Isles

Home ⟩ Pictorial Guide ⟩ Apiaceae / Umbelliferae ⟩ Pastinaca sativa / parsnip

Pastinaca sativa L.

parsnip (Apiaceae / Umbelliferae)

 SpreadBias within British IslesDirection of bias
Very widespreadModerate tendencySE
Plant Atlas 2020
BSBI Distribution Map

Pastinaca sativa is a tall, yellow-flowering umbellifer of non-acidic grasslands in England and South Wales; elsewhere, it occurs as an escape from cultivation.

Oxford (VC23: Oxfordshire); 2014-07-01

 parsnip / Pastinaca sativa: _Pastinaca sativa_ is a tall, yellow-flowering umbellifer of non-acidic grasslands in England and South Wales; elsewhere, it occurs as an escape from cultivation.

The wild subspecies, Pastinaca sativa subsp. sylvestris, is densely hairy on its stems and leaves.

Oxford (VC23: Oxfordshire); 2014-07-01

 parsnip / Pastinaca sativa: The wild subspecies, _Pastinaca sativa_ subsp. _sylvestris_, is densely hairy on its stems and leaves.

The only other yellow-flowering umbellifers with once-pinnate leaves are the much more delicate Silaum silaus and Ridolfia segetum.

Oxford (VC23: Oxfordshire); 2014-07-01

 parsnip / Pastinaca sativa: The only other yellow-flowering umbellifers with once-pinnate leaves are the much more delicate _Silaum silaus_ and _Ridolfia segetum_.

The fruits of Pastinaca sativa are distinctly compressed, and hardly longer than wide.

Aston Rowant (VC23: Oxfordshire); 2016-07-27

 parsnip / Pastinaca sativa: The fruits of _Pastinaca sativa_ are distinctly compressed, and hardly longer than wide.

All images copyright © Christopher J. Dixon unless otherwise indicated.

L-R: Bidens tripartita, Melilotus officinalis, Mimulus guttatus, Thalictrum flavum, Ranunculus peltatus, Anchusa arvensis, Malva alcea, Lolium perenne