Daucus decipiens, the parsnip palm, black parsley, tree angelica, or non-stinging hogweed, is a species of plant in the family Apiaceae.
A large plant that grows with a spreading crown and a woody stem, like a New Zealand cabbage tree. It flowers from November to January in the Southern hemisphere.
The seeds can live for up to a year. The species is biennial or perennial.
<blockquote>Erect biennial or perennial. Stems up to 2 m high and 4 cm diam., woody and leafless in lower parts with distinct lf scars, with pith in centre and hollow in parts. Stem lvs with fine hairs on rachis and midribs, otherwise glabrous, 2âÂÂ3-pinnate (seedling lvs 1-pinnate); ultimate segments ovate to lanceolate, pinnatisect or not lobed, serrate, 15âÂÂ20 mm long, shortly petiolulate or sessile; lvs of infl.-branches much reduced; petiole sparsely to moderately hairy, striate. Umbels up to 20 cm diam.; rays numerous; bracts 10âÂÂ12, narrowly ovate-lanceolate, sometimes serrate, up to 5 cm long; bracteoles 7âÂÂ12, lanceolate. Fls numerous, white to purplish. Fr. dark brown, sparsely hairy, 12âÂÂ18 mm long.</blockquote>
This plant was previously described as Melanosilenum decipiens.
Madeira, Portugal.
Introduced to Great Britain, and to New Zealand in 1969. It is considered an invasive pest in the Wellington area, and is in both the North and South Islands.
It likes sunny, well-drained areas. It can grow well along roadsides.