upright hedge-parsley
Torilis japonica
The seeds are covered in tiny, curved bristles that act like natural Velcro, utilizing a dispersal method called epizoochory to travel miles on animal fur.
- Scientific name
- Torilis japonica
- Taxonomy
- Plantae › Tracheophyta › Magnoliopsida › Apiales › Apiaceae › Torilis
- IUCN Red List status
- Least Concern
- Population trend
- stable
- Biome
- grassland
- Habitat
- Hedgerows, woodland margins, roadsides, waste ground, and rough grasslands.
- Diet
- Autotrophic (Photosynthesis)
- Range
- Europe, Asia, North Africa, North America (introduced)
- Size
- 30 to 120 cm tall
- Lifespan
- 1-2 years (Biennial)
- Active
- diurnal
- Threats
- No major threats; highly resilient and considered an invasive weed in parts of North America.
- Safe to approach?
- Harmless. Safe to approach and touch, though its Velcro-like seeds will readily cling to clothing and pet fur. Avoid contact with the plant's sap, as some individuals may experience mild skin irritation (phytophotodermatitis) when exposed to sunlight. If sap contacts skin, wash with soap and water.
Leaf
Photo: Douglas Goldman, CC-BY-SA, via iNaturalist
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