Anthriscus cerefolium (L) Hoffman. Garden Chervil
NOMENCLATURE
Anthriscus: from Greek, by Theophrastus.
cerefolium: from caerefolium, leaf. (fragrant foliage). Pliny.
OTHER NAMES: cerfeull, (France). Cerfoglio, (Italy) Perifolio, (Spain). Kerbel, (Germany).
Kervel, (Dutch). Korvel, (Danish). Kharefi 110, (Greek) Kupr, (Russia).
BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION
TYPE : annual, 80—100cm. Stem freely branched, hollow, glabrous to very sparsely hairy.
UMBELS : compound. 3—6 hairy rays 1cm. Peduncle < than rays, glaborous. Umbels all leaf opposed.
LEAVES : 2—3 pinnate, lobes 5—10 mm, dentate or pinnatifid, hairy beneath glabrous above.
Petioles inflated and villous towards base. Cotyledons, tapered at base, no petioles.
BRACTS : absent, rarely 1. Bracteoles 4—5, ovate, acuminate, ciliate.
FLOWERS: white, hermaphrodite. Styles forming stylopodium. Fl. 5—6.
FRUIT : 7—10mm, ovoid, shortly beaked. Mericarps with ridges only in the beak. Commisure
narrow. Carpophore present. Vittae absent. Pedicels become as thick as rays in fruit, ring of
stout hairs at apex. Styles v. short, connivent. Stigma slightly thickened. 2m=14.
HABITAT : Hedgebanks. near sea, waste places. Sandy soil.
DISTRIBUTION : intro. Formerly naturalised near Ross on Wye. Casual in Europe N.
to Denmark. Native to Caucasus, W.Asia, S.& C. Russia.
MEDICINAL USES
ACTIVE INGREDIENTS: aplin, bitter principle, essential oil.
EFFECT : mildly diuretic, purifies blood, stimulates metabolism, promotes sweating, expectorant.
PARTS : fresh herb before flowering.
APPLICATION : dropsy, arthritis, chronic skin ailments, fluid retention, jaundice, spring tonic.
Pressed juice 1 tblspn a day or infusion l tblspn per cup, stand 12 min. Wounds: bruised fresh
leaves & stem. externally for conjunctivitis, inflamed eyelids & haemorrhoids.
HISTORICAL MEDICINAL USES
Use as cleansing lotion in jaundice, gout, skin complaints.
Levy : “Good for poor memory& mental depression.
EDIBLE USES
Leaves hint of taste of aniseed & liquorice. Leaves in salad add just before serving. Condiment
before dinner. Once cultivated for flavouring. France ingredient for sauce ravigote, fines herbes
(includes Chervil, Tarragon, Chives & Parsley). for omelettes, salads. Cultivated in France,
Belgium, Netherlands, Switzerland.
FOLKLORE
Plant of Jupiter.
http://www.mpiz-koeln.mpg.de/~stueber/thome/band3/tafel_065_small.jpg