Chaerophyllum temulum (N) Rough Chervil
NOMENCLATURE
Chaeroyphyllum : from Greek ___________ : from _______: chairo : I rejoice/to please
& _______ : phyllum : leaf, from fragrant foliage.
temulum : From Latin temulum : nodding rather top heavily.
OTHER NAMES : chervil, (York). Cow mumble, sheep’s parsley, (Suffolk).
PREVIOUS NAMES: Chaerophyllum temulentum (L)
BSBI Picture Link to Chaerophyllum temulum
BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION
TYPE : Rough erect, hispid biennial. Hs.. STEMS : Solid, grooved,
clothed in stiff short hairs, swollen below nodes, purple
spotted or entirely purple. HEIGHT : 30—100cm.
UMBELS : 3—6 cm diam. Compound, irregular, nodding in bud. The earliest hermaphrodite,
terminates main stern, and subsequently overtopped by branches arising from axils of leaves,
immediately below it, which have male umbels. Rays (4) 8—10 (15), 1.5—5cm. Slender, hairy.
Peduncle > than rays, hairy.
LEAVES : Up to 20cm, 2—3 pinnate, dark green, pubescent both surfaces, segments
ovate, the lower shortly stalked, pinnately lobed. Lobes 10—20 mm, ovate, coarsely
serrate, teeth contracted at the apex. Petiole long.
BRACTS : 0-2. Bracteoloes 5-8. < than pedicels. Lanceolate to ovate, aristate,
ciloate, spreads in flower, deflexed in fruit.
FLOWERS : white. Stalks length vary. Styles form a stylopodium. Fl. 5—8.
FRUIT : 5—6mm. Dark brown, lighter ridges. Oblong—ovoid, narrow at apex, often purple.
Constricted near commisure. Mericarps with broad rounded ridges. Carpophore present.
Vittae solitary. Styles > than stylopodium, recurved. Stigma capitate. 2n=24, 22.
HABITAT : hedgebanks, rough grassy places, wood margins, often growing with hedge garlic, waste places, roadsides. Well drained soil.
DISTRIBUTION :: native, <350m. Common except in W. & N. Scotland, Ireland. Frequent E.
absent W. Most of Europe, Rare in Med. S.W. Asia, Intro. in N. America and New Zealand.
BSBI Distribution Map for Chaerophyllum temulum
MEDICINAL USES
ACTIVE INGREDIENTS : apiin, bitter principle, essential oil.
PARTS : fresh herb before flowering.
APPLICATION : dropsy, arthritis, chronic skin ailments, spring tonic : Pressed juice 1 tbspn 2 x a
day, or infusion 1 tbspn per cup water stand for 12 min. Slow healing wounds : Bruised fresh leaves
& stem. Excess is poisonous.
EDIBLE USES
As condiment, in savoury dishes or salads add just before serving. Excess is poisonous.
Used by moths, Common Flat-body Agonopterix heracliana Coastal Flat-body Agonopterix yeatiana Chervil Flat-body Depressaria sordidatella Streaked Flat-body Depressaria chaerophylli White-spot Flat-body Depressaria albipunctella
EXTERNAL LINKS FOR Chaerophyllum temulum
These links to trusted websites and institutions may provide in depth or additional information regards cultivation, chemistry, edibility, images etc. for the species. Links last updated Aug 2012.
German Wiki (GER) Bio Info (UK) Bio Images (UK) APHOTOFLORA Images (UK)
Oxford Annal of Botany (UK)
'Online Guide To Umbelliferae Of The British Isles' Compiled By J.M.Burton 2002
