Texas Invasives

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Federal Noxious Weed

TDA Noxious Weed

TPWD Prohibited Exotic Species

Invasive Plant Atlas of the US

NOTE:

means species is on that list.

Torilis arvensis

Spreading hedgeparsley

Synonym(s):
Family: Apiaceae
Duration and Habit: Annual Herb/Forb

Photographer: Bob Harms
Source: University of Texas at Austin

Description

Stems: The stems are slender and widely spread. They are branched and have appressed-bristly hairs. They can grow from 1 to 3 feet tall.
Leaves: The leaves are alternate and 2 to 3 times pinnately divided. The leaflets are shaped ovately to linear-lanceolate and are 0.25 to 2.5 inches long and 0.75 inches wide. They are short and hairy and have toothed margins or are regularly divided. The tips of the leaflets are pointed.
Inflorescence: The flowers are formed into a compound umbel and are loose and open. They are Â½Â to 2 inches wide and are on slender stalks that are 1 to 5 inches long. They are terminal and lateral and the primary and secondary umbels have 3 to 9 rays that are Â½ to 1 inch long.
Flowers: The flowers are tiny and white in color. There are 5 petals and the outer petals usually have 2 lobes.
Fruits: The fruits are densely covered with microscopic hooked bristles and are egg- shaped. They are less than 1/5 inches long and are ribbed. They are greenish or pinkish in color.
Flowering Period: These plants flower in June, July and August.

Native Lookalikes: Currently no information available here yet, or there are no native Texas species that could be confused with Spreading hedgeparsley.

Ecological Threat: Minimal: Apparently does not reach densities high enough to impact local/native vegetation or ecosystem. NOTE: native pollinators do visit, and it is a food source for the caterpillars of the Black Swallowtail butterfly.

Biology & Spread: Spreads by seed. Seeds have hooks, allowing them to be dispersed by animals (and peopleâ€™s socks).
â€œLike other members of the Carrot family, the small white flowers attract various insects, including small bees, flies, wasps, and beetles. The caterpillars of the butterfly Papilio polyxenes asterias (Black Swallowtail) feed on the foliageâ€ (Hilty 2012).

History:

U.S. Habitat: â€œThis plant usually grows around waste areas, edges of woods, and low shady placesâ€ (Dixon 2011). â€œThe preference is full sun, mesic to dry conditions, and a rather heavy soil containing gravel or clay. Because this plant often grows in soil containing limestone gravel, it appears to tolerate alkaline conditionsâ€ (Hilty 2012).

Distribution

U.S. Nativity: Introduced to the United States

Native Origin: Central and southern Europe (although the Natural Resource Conservation Service of the USDA lists it as native to only British Columbia, Canada [http://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=TOAR]

U.S. Present: AL, AR, CA, GA, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MD, MO, MS, NC, NE, NJ, NY, OH, OR, PA, SC, TN, TX, UT, VA, WA, WV

Distribution in Texas: Reports from central, east, north and west Texas.

Mapping

Invaders of Texas Map: Torilis arvensis
EDDMapS: Torilis arvensis
USDA Plants Texas County Map: Torilis arvensis

Invaders of Texas Observations

List All Observations of Torilis arvensis reported by Citizen Scientists

OBS# 23321

OBS# 21081

OBS# 23483

Native Alternatives

Management

Physical: Hand pulling is effective on small incipient populations. Pulling is most effective before flowering in late spring when plants are elongated and soil is still moist.
Â Â Â Â Mowing or disking at flowering stage can provide good control. Resprouts may occur after mowing and a secondary treatment may be required.
Chemical: Refer to Ditomaso et al. (2013) for information on rates, timing, and other comments. Listed herbicides: 2,4-D, Triclopyr, Glyphosate, Chlorsulfuron, Imazapic.
Biological: There are no biological control programs for the management of Torilis arvensis.
Cultural: Grazing can provide some control, if grazed at a high stocking density before flowering. There is no information on the effectiveness of control with prescribed burning.

USE PESTICIDES WISELY: ALWAYS READ THE ENTIRE PESTICIDE LABEL CAREFULLY, FOLLOW ALL MIXING AND APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS AND WEAR ALL RECOMMENDED PERSONAL PROTECTIVE GEAR AND CLOTHING. CONTACT YOUR STATE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE FOR ANY ADDITIONAL PESTICIDE USE REQUIREMENTS, RESTRICTIONS OR RECOMMENDATIONS. MENTION OF PESTICIDE PRODUCTS ON THIS WEB SITE DOES NOT CONSTITUTE ENDORSEMENT OF ANY MATERIAL.

Text References

DiTomaso, J.M., G.B. Kyser et al. 2013. Weed Control in Natural Areas in the Western United States. Weed Research and Information Center, University of California. 544 pp.

Online Resources

Brusati, E. and J.M. DiTomaso. 2005. Plant Assessment Form for Torilis arvensis. California Invasive Plant Inventory, California Invasive Plant Council. http://www.cal-ipc.org/paf/site/paf/440. [Accessed Dec 6 2014]

Constance, Lincoln and Margriet Wetherwax. 2013. Torilis, in Jepson Flora Project (eds.) Jepson eFlora , http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/get_IJM.pl?tid=46743 [Accessed on Dec 5 2014]

Dixon, Kiersten. July 2011. Hedge Parsley. Ninnescah Biology Field Station, Wichita State University. http://ninnescahlife.wichita.edu/node/323, [Accessed Dec 5 2014]

DiTomaso, J.M., G.B. Kyser et al. 2013. Hedgeparsley. In: Weed Control in Natural Areas in the Western United States. Weed Research and Information Center, University of California. 544 pp. http://wric.ucdavis.edu/information/natural%20areas/wr_T/Torilis.pdf. [Accessed Dec 6 2014]

Hilty, John. 2012. Common Hedge Parsley. In: Illinois Wildflowers, http://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/weeds/plants/hdg_parsley.htm. [Accessed Dec 6 2014]

http://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=TOAR