The delicate flowers of Tordylium apulum fill the fields with white in early summer, after the reds, yellows and blues of earlier flowers have faded. The small flowers have 5 white petals around a green centre arranged on radiating spokes, to form umbels: they are unusual as the outer petals of the outer flowers have a petal much larger than the rest, giving them an attractive, lacy appearance. They quickly go to seed, developing intriguing dark brown fruits with toothed edges.

The fragrant leaves, which resemble flat parsley in shape are collected as kafkalithra a form of horta; they are said to relieve melancholy.