Cyclospermum is a small genus of flowering plants in the carrot family, Apiaceae (order Apiales), comprising three species. It was published by Spanish botanist Mariano Lagasca in 1821, and is also known by the orthographic variant Ciclospermum, which GBIF records as a synonym genus name.
The genus's best-known member is Cyclospermum leptophyllum, commonly called marsh parsley, slender celery, or fir-leaved celery. It is a taprooted, branching herb reaching a bit over half a metre in height, with fine, threadlike green leaves and small umbels of spherical flowers — a growth habit typical of the family's finely divided, celery-like foliage. This species has spread to warm temperate and tropical regions worldwide and is widely regarded as a noxious weed outside its native range; it also serves as a host plant for Eastern Black Swallowtail butterfly caterpillars. An 1889 Australian reference on useful native plants recorded the common name "Wild Parsley" for it, noted the plant could become acrid or injurious when grown in damp soils, and confirmed it is not endemic to Australia.
Distribution
The genus's most widespread species, C. leptophyllum, occurs at warm temperate to tropical latitudes worldwide and is considered a noxious weed in many areas outside its native range.
Ecology
C. leptophyllum serves as a host plant for Eastern Black Swallowtail butterfly caterpillars.
Cultural Uses
An 1889 Australian reference, "The Useful Native Plants of Australia," recorded "Wild Parsley" as a common name for C. leptophyllum and noted it could be acrid or injurious when grown in damp soils; the source also states the plant is not endemic to Australia.
Taxonomy Notes
Cyclospermum Lag. was published in 1821 (Amen. Acad. Madr. 2: 101) and placed in family Apiaceae, order Apiales, per GBIF. The genus name is also rendered as the orthographic variant Ciclospermum, which GBIF records as a synonym — matching the "also, Ciclospermum" note in both the genus and species Wikipedia articles.
