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PARSNIP
Pastinaca sativa L., family Umbelliferae

Parsnips are grown as a root crop like carrots, celeriac, and turnip- rooted parsley. The other umbelliferous crops are grown for their leafy tops (celery, chervil, parsley), seeds (anise, caraway, coriander), or both seeds and foliage (dill, fennel). Technically, the "fleshy root" that we eat is that portion of the plant below the leaves but above the taproot. Only about 50 acres are devoted to parsnip seed production. About 2,000 pounds of seed was imported in 1968.

Plant:

According to Jones and Rosa (1928*), the seeds are planted and the edible portion develops slowly the first year. During the second spring, a 3- to 6-foot branched, grooved, and hollow stem develops, with flowers in broad compound umbels. The seeds are harvested in the fall, and the roots, having given up their stored food in the development of the stalk, decay. Although all the common umbelliferous vegetables are slow growing, the parsnip is perhaps the slowest (Hawthorn and Pollard 1954*).

Inflorescence:

The broad compound umbels of parsnips are less compact than those of carrots. The ovary of the small, yellowish-green flower bears two styles, which are united at their base to form the large nectary or styler foot. According to Beghtel (1925), nectar secretion begins before the anthers begin to dehisce. The stigma becomes receptive about 5 days later, and nectar secretion continues into the period of stigma receptivity. Just when secretion ceases has not been determined.

Pollination Requirements:

The flowers on the outer edge of the umbel open first. They are normally pollinated with pollen from flowers toward the center of the umbel. The innermost flowers have receptive stigmas after all of the pollen on the umber has disappeared. Unless insects bring pollen from other umbels to fertilize these stigmas, no seeds are produced. The pollen can come from umbels on the same plant or from other parsnip plants.

Pollinators:

The flowers attract various insects (Hawthorn and Pollard 1954*). Knuth (1908*, p, 495) indicated the flowers especially attract beetles and dung flies. Pellett (1947*) stated that parsnips are valuable honey plants, indicating that honey bees visit the flowers freely. The construction of the flower would indicate that honey bees as well as many other species of bees should be satisfactory pollinators if present in sufficient abundance.

Pollination Recommendations and Practices:

There are no recommendations on the use of pollinating insects in the production of parsnip seeds. The construction and relationship of the sexual organs of the flower would indicate that insect visitation is necessary for seed set and that a high population of visitors is most likely necessary for maximum seed production.

LITERATURE CITED:

BEGHTEL, F. E.
1925. THE EMBRYOLOGY OF PASTINACA SATIVA L. Amer. Jour. Bot. 23: 327-337.

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