About Trachymene incisa Rudge
Common Name and Origin
Trachymene incisa, commonly known as wild parsnip, is a perennial herb native to eastern Australia.
Habitat Preferences
It grows in sclerophyll forest and cleared areas, and prefers sandy soils and rock crevices.
General Morphology
This plant reaches 80 cm in height, has a thick perennial rootstock, and is sparsely hairy to almost hairless.
Leaf Characteristics
Most of its leaves emerge from the base of the plant; they are deeply 3–5-lobed to dissected, measuring 1.4–6.5 cm long and 1.5–8 cm wide, with petioles up to 13 cm long.
Inflorescence Type
Trachymene incisa produces flowers arranged in umbels.
Petal Features
Its petals are 0.9–2.2 mm long, and are white, or rarely pink.
Fruit Characteristics
The fruit is broadly ovate, brown, and 2.4–3.6 mm long.
Traditional Use
The roots of Trachymene incisa are a traditional Aboriginal bushfood, eaten after baking in campfire coals or earth ovens.
