Torilis arvensis (Huds.) Link

Field Hedge-Parsley

© SRTurner

Family - Apiaceae

Habit - Annual forb.

Stem - Ascending to erect, to 1.0 m, usually relatively slender, pubescent with stiff, white, retrorse hairs.

	Stem and leaf base.
© SRTurner

Leaves - alternate and basal, compound. Basal and lower stem leaves short-to long-petiolate, grading to sessile or nearly so upward, the sheathing bases not or only slightly inflated, with glabrous margins. Blades to 15 cm long, narrowly oblong-ovate to ovate-triangular in outline, 1 or 2 times pinnately compound, the leaflets 5-60 mm long, lanceolate to oblong-ovate, usually deeply pinnately dissected, mostly narrowed at the base, the lobes with the margins mostly sharply few-toothed, narrowed to a sharp point at the tip, moderately to densely pubescent with stiff, appressed white hairs on both surfaces.

	Lower stem leaf.
© SRTurner

	Upper leaf, adaxial.
© SRTurner

	Leaflet abaxial surface.
© SRTurner

Inflorescences - Terminal, and sometimes also axillary, compound umbels, these short-to long-stalked. Involucre absent or of 1-2 bracts, these 1-12 mm long, narrowly triangular to more commonly linear, often hairlike. Rays 3-10, 0.5-2.5 cm long. Flower stalks 1-4 mm long, the umbellets thus often appearing dense and headlike. Flowers 5-20 per umbellet.

	Inflorescence.
© SRTurner

	Base of inflorescence.
© SRTurner

	Umbellet.
© SRTurner

Flowers - Sepals absent or minute triangular scales. Petals obovate to fan-shaped, rounded or shallowly notched at the tip, white. Ovaries hairy.

	Florets.
© SRTurner

Fruits - Schizocarps 3-5 mm long. Bristles all elongate, 0.6-1.1 mm long, about as long as the width of the body of the mericarp, spreading at nearly 90 degrees from the fruit, straight or slightly arched, terminating in a minute barb.

	Fruits.
© SRTurner

	Fruits.
© SRTurner

Flowering - June - September.

Habitat - Streambanks, glades, prairies, savannas, roadsides, railroads, fields, pastures, open, disturbed areas.

Origin - Native to Eurasia.

Lookalikes - Other species of Torilis (relatively rare in Missouri). More broadly, many other members of the Apiaceae.

Other info. - This introduced weed was first collected in Missouri in 1908, and in the intervening century has spread rampantly, now probably present in every county in the state. It is particularly prevalent in the lower U.S. Midwest, but also occurs across much of the Southwest and the West Coast. It is identified by its compound umbels of white florets, bristly fruits, divided leaves, and by the characteristic appressed white hairs on the stems and leaves. Specimens with mature fruits are rigorously avoided by those in the know, since the abundant fruits stick tenaciously to clothing and are difficult to remove. This adhesion is so strong that removal of the fruits from hairy legs can be a painful experience. At best, a walk through the plants will incur the price of significant time spent tediously pulling the fruits from fabric, unless the affected articles of clothing are to be discarded.

This species has been confused with Torilis japonica, another species which occurs in Missouri but is much rarer in the state. That plant is distinguished by having several bracts at the base of the main inflorescence umbel (often one per ray). In addition, the fruits are smaller (2.0-2.5 mm long) and the bristles are curved and lack the minute barbs at their ends.

Photographs taken at Busch Wildlife Area, St. Charles County, MO, 7-2-2006, Weldon Spring Conservation Area, St. Charles County, MO, 6-20-2009, city of Washington, Franklin County, MO, 6-6-2019, and along the Katy Trail near Marthasville, Warren County, MO, 5-24-2020 (SRTurner).