General:
Annual herb from a taproot; stems erect, several, bristly, 0.3-1.2 m tall.
Leaves:
Stem leaves 1-3 times pinnately cut, dissected into small, narrow ultimate segments without well-defined leaflets, upper leaf sheaths entire.
Flowers:
Inflorescence of compound umbels; spokes each with 1 narrow bract; flowers white.
Fruits:
Egg-shaped to oblong, 2-2.5 mm long, covered with bristles; beaks prominent.
If more than one illustration is available for a species (e.g., separate illustrations were provided for two subspecies) then links to the separate images will be provided below. Note that individual subspecies or varietal illustrations are not always available.
Illustration Source: The Illustrated Flora of British Columbia
TAXONOMIC KEY TO TORILIS
1. Fruits 3-4 mm long with more or less straight spines minutely hooked at the tips T. arvensis 1. Fruits 2-2.5 mm long with curved spines not hooked at the tips T. japonica |