Texas Wildbuds
Polytaenia texana
(Texas Prairie Parsley)
Polytaenia texana, Lake Brownwood State Park, Brown Co. 6456
Polytaenia texana, Lake Brownwood State Park, Brown Co. 6453
Polytaenia texana, Lake Brownwood State Park, Brown Co. 6478
Polytaenia texana, Lake Brownwood State Park, Brown Co. 6479
Polytaenia texana, Lake Brownwood State Park, Brown Co. 6465
Polytaenia texana, Lake Brownwood State Park, Brown Co. 6456
Polytaenia texana, Lake Brownwood State Park, Brown Co. 7068
| Scientific Name | Polytaenia texana | USDA PLANTS Symbol | POTE3 |
| Common Name | Texas Prairie Parsley | ITIS Taxonomic Serial No. | 29834 |
| Family | Apiaceae (Parsley) | SEINet Reference |
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| Description | Habitat: Sandy and/or rocky soils in prairies, old fields, roadsides, fencerows and woodlands. Plant: Erect, stout biennial or perennial, 20 to 40 inches tall; smooth, branching stems. Leaves: Opposite, parsley-like leaves are ternate-pinnate (having three major lobes or leaflets), ovate to oblong up to 5 inches long and 4 inches wide overall; leaflets are ovate to oblong, 3/4 to 1-5/8 inches long and 3/8 to 1-inch wide, with crenate to incised margins. Inflorescence: Compound umbels with multiple (~8 or more) primary rays, each with 10 to 15 secondary rays (umbelettes) with small flowers ~1/4-inch across or less, each with 5 yellow petals and 5 green calyx lobes or sepals. Bloom Period: April to June. Fruit: Flat, oblong "pods" (schizocarps) each separating at maturity into two winged mericarps, each containing a single seed. References: "Manual of the Vascular Plants of Texas" by Correll and Johnston, "Shinners & Mahler’s Flora of North Central Texas" by Diggs, Lipscomb and O’Kennon, "Wildflowers of Texas" by Michael Eason and Flora of North America. |
BONAP Distribution Map Map Color Key |
Texas Status: Native |
Banner photo of Castilleja indivisa and Lupinus ssp. taken along FM 1323 north of Johnson City, Blanco County
© Tom Lebsack 2026
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