1. Limnosciadium pinnatum (DC.) Mathias & Constance

Cynosciadium pinnatum DC.

Pl. 209 g, h; Map 867

Plants annual, glabrous. Stems 6–50(–80) cm long, loosely ascending to erect. Leaves alternate and often also basal (1 or 2 basal leaves often present at flowering), short- to long-petiolate, the sheathing bases not or only slightly inflated. Leaf blades 2–20 cm long, pinnately compound with 3–9 widely spaced leaflets, the basal and uppermost stem leaves (or occasionally nearly all the leaves) sometimes simple, linear (when simple) to lanceolate or ovate-elliptic in outline, the leaflets 6–100 mm long, the terminal leaflet noticeably longer than the others, 1–6 mm wide, linear to narrowly elliptic-lanceolate, entire, gradually narrowed or tapered at the base and tip, with irregular, fine cross-veins or partitions (these mostly on the rachis in compound leaves). Inflorescences terminal and axillary, compound umbels, sessile to long-stalked. Involucre of 2–8 bracts or rarely absent, the bracts 2–6 mm long, reflexed at flowering, entire, linear to narrowly lanceolate or triangular. Rays 3–12, usually unequal in length, 0.5–2.5 cm long. Involucel of 3–7 bractlets, these shorter than the flower stalks, entire, linear or narrowly triangular. Flowers 4–20 in each umbellet, the stalks 2–8 mm long. Sepals minute, ovate or triangular, with thin, white margins. Petals obovate, rounded at the tip, white. Ovaries glabrous. Fruits 2–4 mm long, oblong-elliptic in outline, rounded at the base, rounded and lacking a beak at the tip, slightly flattened laterally, glabrous, dark brown with lighter ribs, each mericarp with 5 blunt, corky ribs, the dorsal and intermediate ribs lacking wings, the lateral ribs broader than the others, with small, corky extensions over the commissures. May–July.

Uncommon in southwestern and southeastern Missouri; also introduced in St. Louis (Iowa to Kansas south to Louisiana and Texas). Moist depressions of glades and upland prairies; also railroads, roadsides, and ditches.