Rank Species | Higher classification Laserpitium | |
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Similar Laserpitium, Umbelifers, Laserpitium siler, Laserpitium prutenicum, Laserpitium gallicum | ||
Laserpitium latifolium, common name broad-leaved sermountain, is an herbaceous perennial plant in the genus Laserpitium belonging to the family Apiaceae.
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Description
Laserpitium latifolium reaches on average 50–150 centimetres (20–59 in) of height. The inflorescence has a diameter of 10–15 centimetres (3.9–5.9 in). The stem is green-grayish, round, erect and lightly grooved, branched on the top. Leaves are quite large, biternate and petiolated, with a prominent central rib. Leaflets are ovate or heart-shaped and toothed. The leaves are 3–10 cm long and 2–6 cm wide. Flowers are white, clustered in unbrels of 25–40 rays. The diameter of umbels reaches 20–30 centimetres (7.9–11.8 in). The flowering season is from May to August. Fruits are oblong and flattened, 5–10 millimetres (0.20–0.39 in) long.
Distribution
It is widespread in most of Europe except Albania, Great Britain, Greece, Ireland, the Netherlands and Portugal. It has been introduced in Belgium.
Habitat
It grows in mountain dry forests, on grassy slopes, on the sunny edges of woods or in meadows. It prefers calcareous soils and a nutrient-rich substrate, at an altitude of 400–2,100 metres (1,300–6,900 ft) above sea level.
