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Apium prostratum - Labill.

Common Name Sea Celery, Prostrate marshwort
Family Apiaceae or Umbelliferae
USDA hardiness Coming soon
Known Hazards Skin contact with the sap is said to cause photo-sensitivity and/or dermatitis in some people[218].
Habitats Coastal headlands and dunes, margins of brackish swamps and saline stretches of river banks[193].
Range Australia - New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria.
Edibility Rating    (3 of 5)
Other Uses    (1 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (0 of 5)
Care (info)
Moist Soil Semi-shade
Apium prostratum Sea Celery, Prostrate marshwort


http://flickr.com/photos/8108294@N05
Apium prostratum Sea Celery, Prostrate marshwort
http://www.flickr.com/people/43206694@N03

 

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Summary


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of flower
Apium prostratum is a PERENNIAL growing to 0.6 m (2ft). The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Flies. The plant is self-fertile.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils and can grow in saline soils.
It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland). It prefers moist soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Plant Habitats

 Cultivated Beds;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Leaves  Root  Seed
Edible Uses:

Leaves - a salty taste, it is used as a flavouring in soups etc or as a garnish in a similar way to parsley[193]. The leaves can also be eaten raw but have a very strong flavour[193]. The stems can be blanched and used like celery[154], but they are small and fibrous so are not very worthwhile[193]. Root. No further details. Seed - used as a flavouring in soups etc.

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.


None known

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

Waterproofing

Used for pads to make canoes watertight.

Special Uses

Scented Plants

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Prefers a rich moist soil with some shade in summer. The crushed leaves smell strongly of celery[193]. This plant used to be known as A. australe, along with a New Zealand form and a S. American form. Most botanists now only apply that name to the S. American form, the New Zealand form has been moved to A. filiforme (syn A, prostratum filiforme) whilst this Australian form is now known as A. prostratum[44, 193]. This plant has been suggested as having the potential to be bred as a cultivated vegetable[193].

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

Type a value in the Celsius field to convert the value to Fahrenheit:

Fahrenheit:

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The PFAF Bookshop

Plants For A Future have a number of books available in paperback and digital form. Book titles include Edible Plants, Edible Perennials, Edible Trees,Edible Shrubs, Woodland Gardening, and Temperate Food Forest Plants. Our new book is Food Forest Plants For Hotter Conditions (Tropical and Sub-Tropical).

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Plant Propagation

Seed - sow spring in a greenhouse. Germination can be a bit slow, taking a month or more. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out in the summer. Division in spring.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Range

SOUTHERN AMERICA: Brazil (Paraná, Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina), Argentina (Mendoza, Buenos Aires, Chubut, Santa Cruz, Tierra del Fuego), Chile, Uruguay AUSTRALASIA: Australia (Tasmania, New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Victoria, Western Australia), New Zealand

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Aethusa cynapiumFool's ParsleyAnnual1.2 -  LMHFSNDM11 
Apium annuum Annual0.1 -  LMHSNM00 
Apium australe Perennial0.6 -  LMHSM301
Apium filiforme Perennial0.3 -  LMHSM30 
Apium graveolensWild Celery. Ajmod, Ajwain-ka-patta (Indian)Biennial0.6 5-9  LMHSM332
Apium graveolens dulceCeleryBiennial0.6 -  LMSNM422
Apium graveolens rapaceumCeleriacBiennial0.6 5-9  LMHSM422
Apium graveolens secalinumLeaf CeleryBiennial0.6 -  LMSNM422
Apium insulare  0.0 -  LMHSNM00 
Sapium japonicum Shrub5.0 8-11  LMHNM10 
Sapium sebiferumVegetable Tallow, Chinese tallow, Popcorn Tree, Chinese Tallow TreeTree9.0 8-11 FLMHNM224

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

Expert comment

Author

Labill.

Botanical References

265

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here

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