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Overview
Cyclospermum is a genus of about three to four annual and short-lived biennial herbs in the carrot family (Apiaceae). Plants form low, branching mounds 4-24 inches (10-60 cm) tall, with hollow, grooved stems and leaves finely divided into thread-like segments 0.2-1.2 inches (5-30 mm) long. The foliage carries a faint celery scent when crushed. Tiny white to greenish flowers, each about 0.04 inch (1 mm) across, are borne in small compound umbels of 2-7 rays, often without the leaf-like bracts seen in related genera. These mature into ribbed, egg-shaped fruits 0.06-0.1 inch (1.5-2.5 mm) long that split into two seeds. The most widespread species, C. leptophyllum, has naturalised across six continents and behaves as a colonising weed of disturbed ground, lawns, and crop margins. Cyclospermum completes its life cycle quickly, often setting seed within a few months of germination, and self-sows freely. Because the genus spans warm-temperate to tropical climates, frost ends the annual forms while milder regions allow autumn-germinated plants to overwinter as small rosettes. The plants have little structural bulk and are most often encountered as a weed rather than a cultivated subject, though the seeds and foliage of some species have a history of culinary and herbal use in parts of South America.
Native Range
Cyclospermum is native to the tropical and subtropical Americas, from the southern United States through Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean, and much of South America. C. leptophyllum has spread far beyond this range and is now naturalised in Africa, southern Europe, Asia, and Australia.Suggested Uses
Cyclospermum is seldom grown as an ornamental and is most familiar as a volunteer of cultivated and waste ground. The foliage and seeds of C. leptophyllum have been used as a culinary flavouring and in traditional herbal preparations in parts of South America. In a garden setting the genus is generally managed as a weed rather than a planted subject.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height4" - 2'
Width/Spread6" - 1'6"
Bloom Information
Flowering occurs mainly from late spring through summer, though in frost-free regions Cyclospermum can flower across much of the year wherever moisture is available. Individual umbels are short-lived, but plants produce them in succession over several weeks. Seed set follows quickly, allowing two or more generations in a single warm season.
Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
white to greenish-whiteFoliage Description
greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 4-12 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight
Water & Climate
Water Needs