Cow parsley Anthriscus sylvestris

Features

Anthriscus sylvestris, known as cow parsley, wild chervil, wild beaked parsley, or keck, is a herbaceous biennial or short-lived perennial plant in the family Apiaceae. The hollow stem grows to a height of 60–170 cm, branching to umbels of small white flowers. Flowering time is mid spring to early summer.

Species	Annual and biennial plant
Living space	Bright forest, Clean or mixed forest, Conifer forest, Cultivated areas, Dark forest, Deciduous forest, Meadow, Mixed forest, Treeline
Size	60-170 cm

Description

It is native to Europe, western Asia and northwestern Africa; in the south of its range in the Mediterranean region, it is limited to higher altitudes. It is related to other diverse members of Apiaceae, such as parsley, carrot, hemlock and hogweed. The tripinnate leaves are 15–30 cm long and have a triangular form. The leaflets are ovate and subdivided. Cow parsley grows in sunny to semi-shaded locations in meadows and at the edges of hedgerows and woodland. It is a particularly common sight by the roadside. It is sufficiently common and fast-growing to be considered a nuisance weed in gardens. Cow parsley's ability to grow rapidly through rhizomes and to produce large quantities of seeds in a single growing season.