Pastinaca sativa L.

Stout, erect biennial, with a thick white taproot. Stems puberulent, hollow, grooved, striate, up to 150–(200) cm high. Basal lvs puberulent, particularly below, usually 1-pinnate, the first pair of leaflets often, and other pairs sometimes, again divided, petiolate; leaflets in c. 5–10 pairs, ovate to lanceolate, pinnately lobed and coarsely serrate, up to 15 cm long, usually sessile, sometimes shortly petiolulate; stem lvs similar to basal, but reduced with fewer, shorter leaflets. Umbel 3–19 cm diam.; rays 7–30; bracts and bracteoles 0–2, linear, 2–4 mm long; fls numerous, yellow, 1–2 mm diam. Fr. glabrous, broadly elliptic to orbicular, 4–6 mm long; vittae slender, prominent, 4 dorsal, 2 commissural.

[From: Webb et al. (1988) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 4.]

Flowering: Oct.–May.