Find Me A Cure

Botanical Name: Sium latifolium
Family: N.O. Umbelliferae/Apiaceae
Synonym:   Water Hemlock.

Common Names:Broad-leaved Water Parsnip
Kingdom: Plantae
Order: Apiales
Genus: Sium
Species: S. latifolium

Habitat:It occurs in watery places all over the British Isles.   Most of Europe, including Britain, excluding the northwest, Portugal, Greece and Turkey.   Habitat Fens and other wet places, often in water,Pond; Bog Garden;  avoiding acid conditions

Description:Perennial growing to 2m.
It is hardy to zone 6 and is not frost tender. It is in flower from July to August. The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs) and are pollinated by Beetles, flies, bees. The plant is self-fertile.
The plant prefers light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils. The plant prefers acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It requires wet soil and can grow in water.

......

The long creeping root-stock of this and the somewhat smaller, closely allied species S. angustifolium is poisonous, but pigs and oxen eat the stem and leaves without harm. However, cows in milk should not be allowed to eat it, as it communicates a disagreeable taste to the milk.
Both species are easily recognized by their pinnate leaves, the leaf-stalks carrying about six to eight pairs of ovate, toothed leaflets. The umbels of white flowers are flat and have a general involucre composed of broadish or lance-shaped bracts, and there is also an in volucel. The fruit bears slender ribs. Theerect, furrowed stems are from 3 to 6 feet high.

Cultivation details:
Prefers a light, rich, moisture retentive soil in full sun[200]. A plant of wet ground and shallow water, it grows best in about 20cm of water[56].

Propagation:
Seed – sow late winter to early spring in a cold frame. The seed can be slow to germinate[200]. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and plant them out in the summer if they are large enough. Otherwise, grow them on in a cold frame for their first winter and plant them out in the following spring. Division in early spring just before new growth begins. Use the side roots. Larger divisions can be planted out direct into their permanent positions. We have found it best to pot up the smaller divisions and grow them on in a lightly shaded position in a cold frame, planting them out once they are well established in the summer.

Edible Uses: Leaves are cooked.

Medicinal Uses: None known

Known Hazards : The entire plant, and especially the root, is poisonous. There is no firm proof of this.

Resources:

http://www.botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/p/parwat13.html

http://species.wikimedia.org/wiki/Sium_latifolium

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sium_latifolium

http://www.pfaf.org/database/plants.php?Sium+latifolium

http://www.eol.org/pages/596815#

If you liked the post, please subscribe to my RSS feed.
If we could help you, please spread the word.