Daucus decipiens

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.^[5]

The seeds can live for up to a year. The species is biennial or perennial.^[2]

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, 2–3-pinnate (seedling lvs 1-pinnate); ultimate segments ovate to lanceolate, pinnatisect or not lobed, serrate, 15–20 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 10–12, narrowly ovate-lanceolate, sometimes serrate, up to 5 cm long; bracteoles 7–12, lanceolate. Fls numerous, white to purplish. Fr. dark brown, sparsely hairy, 12–18 mm long.^[6][7]

This plant was previously described as Melanosilenum decipiens.^[3][8]

Madeira, Portugal.^[1][9]

Introduced to Great Britain,^[9] and to New Zealand in 1969.^[2] It is considered an invasive pest in the Wellington area,^[10][11] and is in both the North and South Islands.^[3]

It likes sunny, well-drained areas. It can grow well along roadsides.^[11][12]