Hedge Spreading Parsley

About the weed

It is a much-branched hairy annual that grows close to the ground, 10 - 20cm tall. The leaves are feathery like those of carrot, divided into three separate leaflets which are further divided. The small white flowers are in little clusters of 3 to 5. The fruit is covered with hooked spines.

Key features

Young plant: It is slightly hairy.

Plant: The stem is finely grooved.

Biology

Spreading hedge-parsley germinates in autumn, suggesting that the seed is shortlived. The fruit is transported by hooking on to fur or clothing.

Symptoms & Diagnosis

Life cycle

Seed longevity: Short lived

Treatment

Management

Spreading hedge-parsley is not competitive to modern crops, and its late flowering disadvantages it in early-harvested and early ploughed crops.