A plant of wet places such as ditches and stream sides this can be difficult to distinguish from Apium nodiflorum (Fool's Water-cress). They both grow in the same sort of habitat and have umbels in the axils of the pinnate leaves. In Berula erecta however there is a dark ring on the lowest leaf stalk (petiole) which is absent in Apium nodiflorum.

Like Apium nodiflorum it is common all over south and central England preferring the East to the West but isn't found much in Scotland or west Wales. It is reasonably common in Ireland.

Beddington Park, South London 2nd July 2006

Added on 5th July 2006, updated 3rd November 2008, updated 10th March 2010