Cow Parsley (Anthriscus sylvestris)

Edibility:Edible

Eating notes: Cow Parsley is closely related to the herb Chervil and can be used in the same way in the kitchen. It can be added to salads in small quantities or as a flavouring for fish, eggs and beans.

Cow Parsley is a very common site along roadsides, wood edges and waste ground.

Height: 80 - 120cm

Leaves: Fern-like heavily divided. Grass-green. Slightly downy.

Flowers: Small white flowers in multiple clusters within larger umbels.

Stems: Hollow green stems with a furrowed and hairy surface.

Look-a-likes: Care must be taken in identifying Cow Parsley as there are a number of poisonous look-a-likes. Fools Parsley is a smaller plant (up to 60cm) with thinner hairless stems and drooping bracts below the flower heads. Hemlock is a larger plant (up to 200cm) with smooth purple blotched stems