Plant
Cow Parsley
Anthriscus sylvestrisAlso known as Wild Chervil, Keck, Mother-Die
Cow parsley blankets roadside verges, hedgerows, and woodland edges with feathery green foliage and frothy white floral umbrellas in late spring. Its hollow, furrowed stems support broad compound leaves that emit a mild aromatic scent when crushed. Serving as a crucial early season nectar source, it supports diverse hoverflies, beetles, and solitary bees before dying back in high summer.
FloweringWildflowerHedgerow
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & preyAutotrophic (Photosynthetic)
Predators
- Agonopterix heracliana caterpillars
- Grazing livestock
- Slugs
ThreatsHerbicides, over-mowing, and agricultural intensification
HabitatsHedgerows, roadsides, open woodlands, and grassy verges
Life span2–3 years (biennial to short-lived perennial)
Classification
- OrderApiales
- FamilyApiaceae
- GenusAnthriscus
- SpeciesAnthriscus sylvestris
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Sap can cause light-sensitive skin irritation, and white flower clusters resemble deadly poison hemlock.
- Why it is dangerous
- Contains furocoumarins that trigger light-sensitive skin inflammation and closely resembles lethally toxic poison hemlock.
- How to recognize a risky encounter
- Look for hollow green grooved stems without purple spots or blotches and fine fern-like leaves.
- What to do
- Wear gloves when clearing plants in sunny weather and never harvest wild white umbellifers.
Responsible observation
- Identification: Look for smooth, deeply channeled stems without purple spots to distinguish from toxic hemlock.
- Photography: Capture mass plantings along country lanes in early morning light when dew clings to tiny petals.
- Handling: Wear gloves when clearing or trimming, as sap can cause mild skin sensitivity in bright sunlight.
Toxic Look-Alike (c) L.J. Lamera, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by L.J. Lamera · cc-by
Similar Look-Alike (c) Eleftherios Katsillis, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Eleftherios Katsillis · cc-by
Close Relative (c) agujaceratops, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
Family Member Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0 · cc-by-sa
Close Relative (c) Yoan Martin, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-sa
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