# Mountain Parsley (*Peucedanum oreoselinum*)

Mountain Parsley is a special plant that grows in cool, rocky places. It has lovely green leaves and can smell very nice, just like the herbs we use in cooking!

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Habitat:** Mountain regions

![Mountain Parsley](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Peucedanum_oreoselinum.jpeg&width=800)

Photo: Kristian Peters -- Fabelfroh 12:48, 29 December 2006 (UTC), CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Peucedanum_oreoselinum.jpeg)

## Appearance

The Mountain Parsley has dark green, fern-like leaves that are deeply divided. Its flowers are tiny and white to greenish-white, forming flat-topped, umbrella-shaped clusters (umbels) at the end of ribbed stems. It looks more robust and wild than common garden parsley.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Plantae
- **Phylum:** Tracheophyta
- **Class:** Magnoliopsida
- **Order:** Apiales
- **Family:** Apiaceae
- **Genus:** Oreoselinum

## Interesting facts

- Ancient people sometimes used this herb for more than just food – they thought it had magic!
- Its tiny flowers gather in umbrella shapes to create a super landing strip for insects!
- This tough plant can grip onto steep, rocky slopes where other greenery can't grow!
- Though called "parsley," it's actually a wild cousin in the same family as carrots!

## Special abilities

- **Rock Gripper:** Mountain Parsley can grow in rocky, poor soils thanks to its strong root system that anchors it firmly.
- **Thirsty Survivor:** It has a deep taproot that helps it reach hidden water sources in dry, exposed mountain environments.
- **Seed Spreader:** This plant produces numerous tiny, ribbed seeds that can catch the wind and disperse widely.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 30-70 cm
- **Spread:** 20-40 cm
- **Flower Size:** 0.2-0.5 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Summer
- **Edible:** Yes
- **Toxicity:** None
- **Lifecycle:** Perennial
- **Pollination Method:** Insect

## Ecological connections

- **Pollinates:** European Honey Bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Visits flowers for nectar and pollen
- **Eats:** Black Bean Aphid (*Aphis fabae*) — Sucks sap from stems and leaves
- **Pollinates:** Old World Swallowtail (*Papilio machaon*) — Feeds on nectar, aiding pollen transfer

## Traits

- [Aromatic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aromatic): Aromatic plants produce and emit fragrant volatile organic compounds, often for defense or to attract pollinators.
- [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle.
- [Cold Hardy](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/cold-hardy): Cold hardy plants are able to withstand low temperatures and freezing conditions without significant damage.
- [Fragrant Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense.
- [Edible](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/edible): Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption.
- [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms.
- [Mountain](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/mountain): This habitat trait identifies species found in mountainous regions, characterized by high elevation, steep slopes, and varying climate zones.

## Collections

- [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

Always ask an adult before touching or picking any plants.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Mountain Parsley?

Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How tall is Mountain Parsley?

30-70 cm

### How wide does Mountain Parsley spread?

20-40 cm

### How big are the flowers on Mountain Parsley?

0.2-0.5 cm

### When does Mountain Parsley bloom?

Summer

### Is Mountain Parsley edible?

Yes

### Is Mountain Parsley toxic?

None

### What is Mountain Parsley's lifecycle?

Perennial

## More Plants

- [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*)
- [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*)
- [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*)
- [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*)

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Source: [Mountain Parsley: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/mountain-parsley)