Native. Perennial. Propagates by seeds. Time of bloom: June to July.

Seed-time: August to September.

Range: New York to the Carolinas, westward to Arkansas and Nebraska. Habitat: Moist meadows, waste places, open woodlands.

When it first appears in the spring, the young shoots of this plant sometimes give an unpleasant flavor to dairy products; later the cattle reject it, though it seems to be not so noxious as other members of its tribe.

Stems smooth, one to two feet high, with few branches. Base leaves heart-shaped, smooth, sharply toothed, long-petioled; those of the stem three-parted - sometimes twice ternate - the lateral leaflets sessile or nearly so, the terminal one stalked, long ovate to lance-shaped, finely toothed. Flowers deep golden yellow, the compound umbel about two inches broad. Carpels small, ovoid or nearly globose, smooth, the ribs standing out like wings. (Fig. 212.)

Ranging nearly with this plant is a close relative, the Hairy-jointed Meadow Parsnip (Thaspium barbinode), also yellow-flowered, but larger, its ternately compound leaves broader and more coarsely toothed, and having tiny tufts of fine hair at each joint.

Fig. 212.-Meadow" Parsnip (Thas-pium aureum). X 1/4.

Means Of Control

Frequent close cutting before seed development, using dry salt in order to retard new growth.