Named for its resemblance to a European herb that was popular in Medieval times, golden Alexanders is a native Missouri wildflower with bright yellow flowers arranged in umbrella-like clusters.
A smooth, branching perennial often growing in large colonies.
The flowers are in open, compound umbels, bright yellow, in a more or less flat-topped display.
Blooms April–June.
The lower leaves are once- or twice-ternately compound (in groups of threes). The upper leaves are once-ternate or irregularly compound. The leaflets are ovate, finely toothed; the edges have a narrow white border.
Similar species: Missouri has several wildflowers in the carrot-parsley family that look rather similar, including the following:
- Heart-leaved golden Alexanders (Zizia aptera) is scattered mostly south of the Missouri River. Its basal leaves are most often simple, less often once-ternately lobed or compound.
- Meadow parsnip (Thaspium trifoliatum) is also quite similar. It can be distinguished by its having the central flower in each umbellet (smaller division of the compound umbel) slightly raised, on a little stalk. The central flower in golden Alexanders is mostly stalkless and recessed. A surer way to distinguish between them is to examine the fruits: Those of Thaspium are strongly winged, while those of Zizia are unwinged or only ribbed or slightly winged.
Height: to 2 feet.
Statewide, but apparently absent from the Mississippi Lowlands.
Habitat and Conservation
Grows in the widest variety of habitats of all the golden Alexanders and meadow parsnip species in Missouri: bottomland forests, mesic (moist) upland forests, upland prairies, glades, savannas; banks of streams, rivers, and spring branches; bases, ledges, and tops of bluffs; and rarely fens; also roadsides.
Status
Native Missouri wildflower.
Human Connections
This species can be grown easily in gardens from seed, and the foliage and flowers are quite attractive. However, if allowed to produce seed, it can become overly aggressive.
The name “golden Alexanders” refers to another member of the carrot family, a European species popular as an edible and medicinal herb from Roman times through the Middle Ages, called Alexanders (Smyrnium olusatrum; Medieval scholars called it Petroselinum alexandrinum). That plant apparently was named for the ancient city of Alexandria in Egypt, where it was believed to have originated. The city, in turn, was named for the Greek king Alexander the Great.
Ecosystem Connections
The carrot family includes 57 native and introduced species in Missouri. Gardeners are familiar with several cultivated species such as dill, parsley, carrot, celery, fennel, and cilantro.
The characteristic flower clusters (umbels) are visited by many bees, flies, butterflies, and other insects.
Black swallowtail caterpillars eat the foliage of members of the carrot-parsley family.
