Ground Elder
Aegopodium podagraria, commonly called ground elder, is a species of flowering plant
It is in the carrot family - Apiaceae - that grows in shady places
The name "ground elder" comes from the superficial similarity of its leaves and flowers to those of elder (Sambucus), which is not closely related
Other common names include herb gerard, bishop's weed, goutweed, gout wort, snow-in-the-mountain, and wild masterwort
It has been introduced around the world as an ornamental plant, where it occasionally poses an ecological threat as an invasive exotic plant
This herbaceous perennial grows to a height of 100 cm (39 in) from underground rhizomes
The stems are erect, hollow, and grooved
The upper leaves are ternate, broad and toothed
It flowers in spring and early summer
Numerous flowers are grouped together in an umbrella-shaped flowerhead known as a compound umbel
The main umbel is further divided into several secondary umbels known as umbellets or umbellules
Each umbellet has 15 to 20 rays (pedicels) that are each topped with a single, small, five-petaled white flower
These plants are visited by many types of pollinating insects
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