Bifora radiansM.Bieb. Wild bishop

Bifora radiansM.Bieb. - Wild bishop

Scientific Description:

Stems 10−80 cm, hollow. Basal leaves 2-pinnate, ovate, 10−14 × 3−6 cm, segments deeply incised. Upper leaves 2−3-pinnate, segments filiform, 5−30 mm. Umbels terminal and lateral. Rays (2)−4−8, arcuate, ascending, ± equal, 1.5−2.5 cm. Bracts 0−1, filiform, 4−7 mm. Bracteoles 0−2, filiform, 1−2.5 mm. Pedicels 5−8 mm. Flowers hermaphrodite or male. Petals bifid often with only one lobe developing; outer radiant 4−5 mm, inner 1.5−2 mm. Anthers green. Fruits 2−3 per umbellule, rugulose, base cordate, apex retuse, 2−3.5 × 4−7 mm.

Flowering time: April−August.

Habitat: Waste ground and fieldsides, often chalky, 700−1800 m.

Reference:
Hedge IC & Lamond JM (1972). Bifora radians Bieb., In: Davis PH (ed.), Flora of Turkey and the East Aegean Islands, Edinburgh University Press, Edinurgh, 4: 333.

Public Description:

Bifora radians, known as “wild bishop”, is distributed in the Mediterranean, Türkiye, Iran, the Caucasus, Crimea, Black Sea area. It is an annual plant with white flowers and grows up to 80 cm in length. It blooms between April and August and is often found in chalky waste ground and fieldsides. It is used as a spicy herb for many dishes and a savory salad is prepared from its leaves. This plant is used in traditional Turkish medicine to relieve the stomach and as a carminative. The aerial parts of this plant have been used to aromatize foods, especially soups, in Doğubeyazıt-Türkiye.

References:

Anonymous 1 (2015). http://www.agroatlas.ru/en/content/weeds/Bifora_radians, Accessed date: 19.12.2015.

Anonymous 2 (2015). https://gobotany.newenglandwild.org/species/bifora/radians, Accessed date: 19.12.2015.

Köroğlu A, Hürkul MM, Özbay Ö (2012). Antioxidant Capacity and Total Phenol Contents of Bifora radians Bieb. FABAD J.Pharm. Sci. 37(3): 123−127.

Menemen Y (2012). Bifora Hoffm., In: Güner, A., Aslan, S., Ekim, T., Vural, M. & Babaç, M.T. (eds.), Türkiye Bitkileri Listesi (Damarlı Bitkiler). Nezahat Gökyiğit Botanik Bahçesi ve Flora Araştırmaları Derneği Yayını. İstanbul, pp. 50.