Smyrnium olusatrum
Ecology
A robust perennial herb naturalised in hedge banks, on cliffs, at the base of walls, and on grassy roadsides, pathsides and waste ground, mainly near the sea. Lowland.
Status
Trends
S. olusatrum was introduced in Roman times, and was widely cultivated until displaced by celery in the 15th century. The distribution is largely unchanged since the 1962 Atlas, although it appears to be increasing in some inland areas. There is no satisfactory explanation for its predominantly coastal distribution as some inland populations have persisted for many decades.
World Distribution
Native of the Mediterranean region and S. Europe, north to N.W. France.
Broad Habitats
Light (Ellenberg): 7
Moisture (Ellenberg): 5
Reaction (Ellenberg): 7
Nitrogen (Ellenberg): 7
Salt Tolerance (Ellenberg): 0
January Mean Temperature (Celsius): 4.4
July Mean Temperature (Celsius): 15.5
Annual Precipitation (mm): 907
Height (cm): 150
Perennation - primary
Life Form - primary
Woodiness
Clonality - primary
Count of 10km squares in Great Britain: 803
Count of 10km squares in Ireland: 327
Count of 10km squares in the Channel Isles: 13
Atlas Change Index: 0.66
Weighted Changed Factor: 27
Weighted Change Factor Confidence (90%)
JNCC Designations
PLANTATT - Attributes of British and Irish plants. (.zip 1455KB) This dataset was compiled and published in 2004, and last updated in November 2008. Download includes an Excel spreadsheet of the attributes, and a PDF explaining the background and nomenclature. Note that the PDF version is the booklet as published, whereas the Excel spreadsheet incorporates subsequent corrections. A hardcopy can be purchased from the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology.
Atlas text references
Atlas (156d)
.
1990. Flora dels Països Catalans, II. Crucíferes-Amarantàcies.
.
1964. Weeds & Aliens, edn 2.
.
1980. Umbellifers of the British Isles. Botanical Society of the British Isles Handbook no. 2.