39. Torilis Adans.
(hedge-parsley)
Plants annual.
Stems loosely ascending to erect, pubescent with stiff, white, usually
downwardly appressed hairs. Leaves alternate and usually also basal (several
basal leaves usually present at flowering), the basal and lower stem leaves
short- to long-petiolate, the median and upper leaves short-petiolate or more
commonly sessile or nearly so, the sheathing bases not or only slightly
inflated, with glabrous margins. Leaf blades 3–15 cm long (uppermost leaves
sometimes only 0.5 cm), 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, white hairs on
both surfaces. Inflorescences terminal and/or lateral, compound umbels (often
appearing simple and headlike in T. nodosa), short- to long-stalked
(sometimes appearing sessile in T. nodosa). Involucre absent or of 1–10
bracts, these hairy. Rays 2–10, pubescent with stiff, white, usually upwardly
appressed hairs. Involucel of 3–8 bractlets, these longer than the flower
stalks, narrowly elliptic to more commonly linear, hairy. Flowers 5–20 in each
umbellet. Sepals absent or minute triangular scales. Petals obovate to
fan-shaped, rounded or shallowly notched at the tip, white. Ovaries hairy.
Fruits oblong-elliptic to ovate in outline, narrowed or rounded at the base,
narrowed to a blunt, beakless tip, flattened laterally, grayish brown to
grayish green, the mericarps somewhat narrowed along the commissures, the
slender and nervelike ribs usually appressed-hairy, usually obscured by a dense
covering of long bristles, these more or less spreading, mostly with minute,
terminal barbs. About 15 species, Europe, Asia, Africa.