cow parsley (South Georgia Flora)

cow parsley

Anthriscus sylvestris

Summary ²

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 (Umbelliferae), genus Anthriscus. It is also sometimes called mother-die (especially in the UK), a name that is also applied to the common hawthorn.

Cow Parsley is a tall, downy, upright perennial herb growing up to 1.5m tall; stems are hollow, furrowed and downy. Leaf blades are soft and appear fern-like, basal leaf blades 3-pinnate. Flower heads are 4-10 rayed compound umbels up to 6cm across; leaflets at the base of each flower stalk, not at base of flower head as a whole; each flower is 3-4mm across with white petals. Fruits are black, smooth, oblong, hairless, 6-10mm long; dispersed by wind, water and gravity; seeds remain viable in the soil for 1-5 years. Typically found in disturbed ground around buildings.

Distribution ³

Grytviken

Comments ⁴

Tall distinctive flowering stem. Unlikely to be confused with any other plant on South Georgia; it is very conspicuous in flower and the dried remains of the flowering stems can persist for some time. The feathery, pinnate leaves of young plants are also quite distinctive.

Sources and Credits

(c) Radio Tonreg, some rights reserved (CC BY), http://www.flickr.com/photos/63169246@N00/7007664592
Adapted by stuwhiterod from a work by (c) Wikipedia, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthriscus_sylvestris
(c) Kelvin Floyd, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA)
Adapted by stuwhiterod from a work by (c) Kelvin Floyd, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA)

More Info

iNat Map

Group	Forb
Category	Non Native

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cow parsley

Summary 2

Distribution 3

Comments 4