The weed you might miss

THE LAST IN MY TRILOGY of very similar-looking weeds is parsley piert ( Aphanes inexspectata), a freely-branched winter annual. It’s very similar in looks to the weeds I’ve covered in the last two issues: dove’s foot (October) and cutleaved geranium (November).

This broadleaf weed germinates in the autumn, is relatively winter-active, and can be very hard to see in your lawn. It then produces seed in spring. If you then get a dry summer, it can and will quickly invade thinned-out areas.

It’s a member of the rose ( Rosaceae) family and is found all over Europe, where it’s also commonly known as field lady or colickwort. The name Aphanes comes from a Greek word meaning ‘unseen’ or ‘unnoticed’, and it’s apt for this weed.

Unfortunately the name parsley piert doesn’t have anything to do with parsley, although 17th century herbalist Mr Nicholas Culpeper did recommend using it in salads. However, I’ve found if you walk out onto your lawn to collect some for a salad, it may take you a long time to get a sufficient amount because it’s so hard to spot.

This plant has the ability to quickly germinate in open spaces or bare ground, along banks, hedges and waste areas, but it’s most prevalent in pasture and turf. Parsley piert can establish in most soil types, enjoying a ph range of 4-7.5, and quickly forms a tight, low-growing mat.

Like the other two weeds in this trilogy, it can be hard to distinguish at first glance. Parsley piert has leaves that can measure up to 12mm long, 4-10mm wide, consisting of three leaflets, with each leaflet divided into three deeply-cut lobes. The plant produces tiny green flowers at the base but no petals.

Leaf identification can be very hard if you’re looking at dove’s foot and parsley piert. It’s height of the plant that will reveal which one you’re looking at (dove’s foot is tall, parsley piert stays low).