Chaerophyllum temulentum (L) Rough Chervil
NOMENCLATURE
Chaeroyphyllum : from Greek ___________ : from _______: chairo : I rejoice/to please
& _______ : phyllum : leaf, from fragrant foliage.
temulentum : from Latin temulentum : vertigo, affect of plant on humans: stimulated
drunkness. Or temulurn/s : nodding rather top heavily.
OTHER NAMES : chervil, (York). Cow mumble, sheep’s parsley, (Suffolk).
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.
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.
http://www.mpiz-koeln.mpg.de/~stueber/thome/band3/tafel_067_small.jpg