Aethusa cynapium - Fool's Parsley

Family:	Umbelliferae
Habit:	Annual
Height:	1.2
Synonyms:
Range:	Most of Europe, including Britain, to the Caucasus and south to Algeria.

Aethusa cynapium (Fool's Parsley) is a Annual which grows to a height of 1.2m . It has a hardness rating of 0.
Fool's Parsley will flower in January to February. the seeds ripen from February to March
The flowers from this plant are hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and they are pollinated by Insects

Soil Information

Fool's Parsley will grow in light (sandy),medium (loamy),hard (clay) soil. It is not necessary for the soil to be well drained.
The soil prefers the following PH / acid levels :
- pH of less than 6, Acidic soils
- pH between 6 and 8, Neutral soils
- pH greater than 8, Basic soils
Fool's Parsley prefers either dry or moist soils

Ideal Planting Locations

Fool's Parsley can grow in full, semi shaded areas and areas with no shade.

Grows in waste places and is also a common weed of cultivated ground but rarer in the north of Britain[9, 17].

Planting places suited to this plant described below.

• Grows within a woodland garden
• Works within dappled Shade
• Grows in a shady edge
• Is suited to a deeply shaded location

Cultivation Details

We have no details for this species, see its native habitat above for ideas on its cultivation needs. All parts of the plant have an unpleasant smell reminiscent of hemlock (Conium maculatum)[245].

Edible Uses*

* See disclaimer
Edible Rating: 1/5
Leaves - raw or cooked[105]. It is very inadvisable to eat this plant, see the notes above on toxicity[177].

• Leaves -

Medicinal Uses*

* See disclaimer
Medicinal Rating: 1/5
Although fairly toxic, fool's parsley has occasionally been used in folk medicine[268]. The herb is sedative and stomachic. It has been used in the treatment of gastro-intestinal problems, especially in children, and also to treat convulsions and summer diarrhoea[4, 61, 268]. Extreme caution in the use of this herb is advised, see the notes above on toxicity.

• Sedative - Gently calms, reducing nervousness, distress and irritation.
• Stomachic - Aids and improves the action of the stomach.

Propagation

Seed - we have no details on this species but suggest sowing the seed in situ as soon as it is ripe or in spring.

Scented parts of the plants

Plant : Crushed

Known Hazards

The entire plant is poisonous though less so than Conium maculatum (q.v.)[4, 10, 19]. Small amounts can cause pain, confusion of vision and vomiting[268]. The dried plant might be safe to eat[10].

Other Uses

None known

Cultivars

no recorded cultivars

References

Flora of the British Isles.
Clapham, Tootin and Warburg.
Author: Clapham, Tootin and Warburg.
Rating:
Publisher : A very comprehensive flora, the standard reference book but it has no pictures.
Date of Publication : 1962

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