Irish wildflowers BSBI map

Cow Parsley, Anthriscus sylvestris, Pheirsil bhó
Photographs: Co. Cork

Cow Parsley
Anthriscus sylvestris
Peirsil bhó
Family: Apiaceae

Flowering time: April-June. Perennial. Native.

Long-stalked umbels of white flowers with 8-12 rays. Smooth shiny fruit. No bracts but broad, often pinkish bracteoles. The fern-like leaves are 3-pinnate with pointed segments, they appear from September and over-winter. Erect stems are hollow, grooved, unspotted. Height 70-120 cm

Can be abundant on roadsides, hedgebanks and at wood edges.

Similar: Fools Parsley, Aethusa cynapium. Smaller, flowers July-August.
Hemlock, Conium maculatum. Purple-spotted stems, unpleasant smell

Cow Parsley, Anthriscus sylvestris, Pheirsil bhó

Cow Parsley, Anthriscus sylvestris, Pheirsil bhó
Cow Parsley, Anthriscus sylvestris, Pheirsil bhó

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