Torilis nodosa aka Hedge Parsley

Torilis nodosa is an annual in the Apiaceae family. Its common names include knotted hedge-parsley and knotted bur parsley. Its native range spans Macaronesia, western Europe, and the Mediterranean. It extends east to the western Himalaya. The range includes parts of North Africa and western Asia. Both Britain and Ireland fall within its native range. Kew places this species in the temperate climate zone.

This small herb grows fast and takes several forms. Its stems may lie along the ground or rise upward. Some plants grow upright instead of spreading close to the soil. Plants For A Future gives a garden height of about 1.6 feet (0.5 metres). It lists a spread of about 1 foot (0.3 metres). Its broader height range runs from 0.3–2 feet (0.1–0.6 metres). This range reflects the varied forms described for the species. As an annual, it completes its life cycle within one year.

Flowers appear from May to July, according to Plants For A Future. Insects pollinate them, and the plant attracts wildlife. The supplied sources give no further flower or fruit details. Growers can raise this species from seed. In the wild, it grows among sparse grass and on bare ground. It also occurs on waste land with dry soil. Disturbed sites form an important part of its habitat. These records describe a plant that can behave as a weed.

For cultivation, it needs sun rather than shade. It accepts sandy, loamy, and clay soils when drainage is good. Its soil range includes mildly acid, neutral, and mildly alkaline conditions. It can grow in either dry or moist soil. Plants For A Future lists USDA hardiness zones 6–10. Its small size and wildlife value are supported garden traits. The evidence does not describe a specific ornamental role. Nor does it identify pests or diseases affecting the species.

People gather the plant from the wild for food. Its leaves serve as a wild green vegetable in southern Croatia. This use also occurs in nearby southwestern Herzegovina. Plants For A Future gives its food value two out of five. It reports no known hazards, but provides no detailed toxicity assessment. The source records no known medicinal uses or other uses. Its food record concerns leaves, not roots, flowers, or seeds.