Torilis arvensis (Huds.) Link, Apiaceae

Click on an image for links to BIGGER PICTURES

Present on Pacific Islands?  yes

Primarily a threat at high elevations?  no

Risk assessment results:  High risk, score: 9 (Go to the risk assessment)

Other Latin names:  Caucalis elongata Hoffmanns. & Link; Caucalis purpurea Ten.; Torilis heterophylla Guss.; Torilis homophylla Stapf & Wettst.; Torilis neglecta Spreng.; Torilis radiata Moench

Common name(s): [more details]

English: Canada hedgeparsley, hedge parsley, spreading hedge-parsley

Habit:  herb

Description:  "Erect annual. Stems densely hairy above but glabrous or sparsely hairy near base, solid, striate, 20-60-(100) cm high, sometimes purple tinged; hairs deflexed. Basal leaves densely hairy above and below, 2-pinnate, petiolate; ultimate segments ovate to lanceolate, pinnatifid and serrate, 15-45 mm long, sessile or shortly petiolulate; stem leaves similar to basal, but 1-pinnate or pinnately 3-foliolate toward apex with less divided segments. Umbels 1-4-(5) cm in diameter, long-pedunculate, usually terminal; rays (2)-3-9, 5-20-(30) mm long; bracts 0-1, linear; bracteoles 5-6, linear. Flowers few to numerous, white or tinged pink,c. 2 mm in diameter., irregular. Fruit. ovoid, 3.5-4.5 mm long; all mericarps spinous; spines curved upward, thickened at tip"  (Webb et al., 1988; 138).

Habitat/ecology:  In New Zealand, "waste places, gardens, pasture, forest margins, coastal habitats"  (Webb et al., 1988; 138).

Propagation:  Seed. The abundant bur-like seeds cling tenaciously to animal fur and clothing.

Native range:  Africa, including the Madeira and Canary Islands; Europe; Asia as far east as Pakistan; naturalized in the Azores and elsewhere (GRIN).

Presence:

Pacific
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Kaua‘i Island	introduced invasive	Staples, George W./Imada, Clyde T./Herbst, Derral R. (2002) (p. 5) Voucher cited: Hobdy, R.; S. Perlman & S. Gon 3059 (BISH)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Maui Island	introduced invasive	Starr, Forest/Starr, Kim (2012) (p. 87) East Maui. Voucher cited: Starr 111018-1 (BISH)

Pacific Rim
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
British Columbia (province of Canada) Province of British Columbia	Canada (British Columbia)	introduced	U.S. Dept. Agr., Nat. Res. Cons. Serv. (2013)
New Zealand New Zealand	New Zealand (country)	introduced invasive	Webb, C. J./Sykes, W. R./Garnock-Jones, P. J. (1988) (p. 138)
United States (west coast) United States (west coast states)	USA (Oregon)	introduced	U.S. Dept. Agr., Nat. Res. Cons. Serv. (2013)
United States (west coast) United States (west coast states)	USA (California)	introduced	U.S. Dept. Agr., Nat. Res. Cons. Serv. (2013)
United States (west coast) United States (west coast states)	USA (Washington)	introduced	U.S. Dept. Agr., Nat. Res. Cons. Serv. (2013)

Also reported from
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
United States (continental except west coast) United States (other states)	United States (other states)	introduced	U.S. Dept. Agr., Nat. Res. Cons. Serv. (2013)

Control:  If you know of control methods for Torilis arvensis, please let us know.