Fool's Parsley
Fool's Parsley - Aethusa cynapium
Description
Low to medium hairless plant, stems ribbed, leaves 2 or 3 pinnate, dark green. Flowers white 2 mm in umbels with 10 to 20 rays, petals unequal. Bracts absent, but with 3 or 4 pendant bracteoles giving a bearded appearance.
Identification difficulty
Habitat
Waste places, arable land and even gardens.
When to see it
June to October.
Life History
Annual, occasionally biennial.
UK Status
Common and widespread in Britain.
VC55 Status
Common in Leicestershire and Rutland. In the 1979 Flora survey of Leicestershire it was found in 457 of the 617 tetrads.
In the current Checklist (Jeeves, 2011) it is listed as native, frequent
David Nicholls
Ratby Church
27 April 2014
Graham Calow
Springwell Lane, Whetsone
29 July 2016
David Nicholls
Ratby Church
27 April 2014. All Saints Car Park near Garages Sapcote SP 4889 9321 (taken 6.7.2006).JPG)
Graham Calow
All Saints Chuch, Sapcote
06 July 2006
David Nicholls
Ratby Church
27 April 2014 near Marsh Area Old Fosse Sapcote SP 4979 9215 (taken 30.6.2008).JPG)
Graham Calow
Sapcote
30 June 2008
Peter Smith
Castle Street, Leicester
10 August 2012
Young fruit
Peter Smith
Castle Street, Leicester
10 August 2012
Pendent bracteoles
Graham Calow
Sapcote
22 August 2014
. All Saints Car Park near Garages Sapcote SP 4889 9321 (taken 6.7.2006).JPG)
 near Marsh Area Old Fosse Sapcote SP 4979 9215 (taken 30.6.2008).JPG)
Leicestershire & Rutland Map
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UK Map
Additional images
No additional images available for this species.