Water parsnip
Sium suave

Family: Apiaceae

What it is like

A herb that keeps growing from year to year. It grows 50-120 cm high. The stems are stout and ribbed. A cluster of long, fleshy roots arise from the base of the stem. The leaves are alternate and compound. They have 7-13 leaflets that have fine teeth along the edge. These are 4-10 cm long. The flowers are small and white. They are in umbrella shaped heads.

Where it is found

It is a temperate plant. It grows in swampy places and near the edges of ponds.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Canada, China, Japan, Korea, North America, Russia, Taiwan, USA

How it is used for food

Caution. The flower-tops may be poisonous. It could also be confused with other plants that are poisonous. The long fleshy roots are eaten raw or cooked. The leaves are eaten as a relish.

Edible parts

Roots, stems, caution, leaves

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

Apium cicutifolium (Schrenk) Benth. & Hook.f. ex F. B. Forbes & Hemsl.; Cicuta dahurica Fisch ex Schultz; Sium cicutifolium Schrenk.; Sium formosanum Hayata; Sium nipponicum Maxim.;