1.  A name for Sium latifolium (water-parsnip), Apium graveolens (wild celery), or other aquatic umbellifers.

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1562.  Turner, Herbal, II. (1568), 32. Syon is … so lyke Selino or Apio … that som haue taken it for Elioselino, and haue named it waterpersely. Whiche name were good to be receyued … that the herbe myght ye better ther by be knowen, then bi ye name of belragges.

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1578.  Lyte, Dodoens, V. xlvii. 610. Of water Parsly … There is founde in this countrie two kyndes of this herbe, one great, the other smal. Ibid., 611. (headings of figures) Lauer Crateuæ, Great water Parsely. Lauer minus, Small water Parsely.

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1597.  Gerarde, Herbal, II. ccclxxxi. 862. Smallage … is called in English March Marish Parsley, and Apium aquatile, or water Parsley; but Hydroselinum, or Sium maius, is the true water Parsley.

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1611.  Cotgr., Berle, the great water Parsenip, great water Parsely; called also, Belders, and Bell-rags.

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1891.  [D. Jordan & Mrs. J. A. Owen], Ann. Fishing Village, xi. 105. Water-cress, and a thick growing plant they called water-parsley, covered the bottom.

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  2.  The tropical American herb Richardsonia scabra (white ipecacuanha, Mexican clover).

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1891.  Century Dict.

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