This perennial, native species is mainly to be found near the sea and particularly on the northern coast of Ireland and in Scotland. It prefers to grow near rocks and coastal shingle. Smelling quite strongly of celery, it has dense umbels of small (2mm) green-white flowers. The umbels are borne on very stout, hairless, hollow stems which are ridged and are often purple-tinged. The leaves are shiny, divided into 3-lobed leaflets being toothed in their upper part. The leaf stems are inflated, clasping the stem. Fruits are oblong-oval with sharp ridges and calyx teeth. This species, which belongs to the Carrot family (Apiaceae) grows to about 90cm tall and it flowers in June and July.
I first saw this species on the Inishowen peninsula when a botanical friend took me to see it at the end of June, 2015.
If you are satisfied you have correctly identified this plant, please submit your sighting to the National Biodiversity Data Centre
