Torilis arvensis
Torilis arvensis
Dercikotu
Erect, stems up to 100 cm, often branched, retrorsely setose. Leaves very variable, 1-2-pinnate or sometimes the upper trifoliolate, the ultimate segments toothed or pinnatifid, strigose. Umbels terminal. Rays 2-12. Bracts 0-1. Bracteoles numerous, shorter than the flowers. Petals white or pink, radiant or not. Fruit ovoid, slightly compressed, 3,5-6 mm, the whole surface covered with straight or arching, patent, papillose spines.
A very polymorphic, weedy species. The following account follows Cannon in Flora Europaea 2:371 .
1. Rays 4-12
2. Outer petals distinctly radiant, c. 2 mm; lower leaves 2-pinnate, the segments pinnatifid, upper leaves usually trifoliolate, the terminal segment long and regularly pinnatifid subsp. neglecta
2. Outer petals not radiant, c. 1 mm; upper and lower leaves usually 2-pinnate, the segments serrate or pinnatifid, the terminal not usually noticeably larger subsp. arvensis
1. Rays 2-3
3. Rays widely diverging; lower and upper leaves similar, 1-2-pinnate with pinnatifid segments subsp. elongata
3. Rays not usually diverging; lower leaves 2-pinnate, upper usually trifoliolate with linear, entire or remotely dentate leaflets subsp. purpurea
