E-Flora BC: Electronic Atlas of the Flora of British Columbia

Oenanthe sarmentosa C. Presl ex DC.
Pacific water-parsley (water parsely)
Apiaceae

Introduction to Vascular Plants

© Val George  Email the photographer   (Photo ID #29766)

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Distribution of Oenanthe sarmentosa
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Species Information

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General:
Fibrous-rooted perennial herb; stems soft, weak, loosely branched, up to 1 m long, reclining to ascending, sometimes rooting at the nodes, glabrous.
Leaves:
Basal and stem leaves pinnately divided 2-3 times; leaflets toothed and cleft, primary lateral veins of the leaflets directed to the marginal teeth.
Flowers:
Inflorescence of compound umbels on long stalks; flowers white, small; involucel of numerous, small, narrow bractlets.
Fruits:
Oblong, 2.5-3.5 mm long, 2 mm wide; ribs broader than the narrow intervals.

Source: The Illustrated Flora of British Columbia

Habitat / Range

Wet streamsides, marshes, meadows and open forests in the lowland and montane zones; common in and W of the Coast-Cascade Mountains; N to AK and S to CA.

Source: The Illustrated Flora of British Columbia

Ecology

Ecological Framework for Oenanthe sarmentosa

The table below shows the species-specific information calculated from
original data (BEC database) provided by the BC Ministry of Forests and Range.
(Updated August, 2013)

Site Information
Value / Class

Minimum

Average

Maximum

Elevation (metres) 0 169 1970
Slope Gradient (%) 0 3 70
Aspect (degrees)
[0 - N; 90 - E; 180 - S; 270 - W]
45 226 360
Soil Moisture Regime (SMR)
[0 - very xeric; 4 - mesic;
8 - hydric]
3 6 8
Modal Nutrient Regime
Class
D
Number of field plots
 species was recorded in:
255
Modal BEC Zone Class
CWH
All BEC Zones (# of stations/zone) species was recorded in: CDF(38), CWH(174), ESSF(1)

Ecological Indicator Information

A shade-tolerant/intolerant. submontane to montane, Westem North American herb distributed more in the Pacific than the Cordilleran region. Occurs in cool mesothermal climates on wet to very wet, nitrogen-rich soils (Moder and Mull humus forms); its occurrence decreases with increasing latitude, elevation, and continentality. Occasional in forest understories on water-receiving sites with fluctuating groundwater table; common in non-forested, semi-terrestrial communities on water-collecting sites. Usually associated with Lysichitum americanum. A nitrophytic species characteristic of nutrient-rich wetlands.

SourceIndicator Plants of Coastal British Columbia (Information applies to coastal locations only)

Climate

The climate type for this species, as reported in the: "British Columbia plant species codes and selected attributes. Version 6 Database" (Meidinger et al. 2008), is cool mesothermal.

Taxonomic and Nomenclatural Links

Additional Photo Sources

General References