This is a slender plant which is very common on hedge-banks and in open
woods. It blooms all spring and summer.
The flowers are white, and they grow in clusters at the end of green
spokes which look like the ribs of an umbrella. Notice that there is no
ring of feathery green leaves where these spokes join the main stem.
Before the flowers open, these green spokes bend downward.
There is a ring of tiny pointed leaves at the back of each cluster of
flowers. These tiny leaves are tinged with pink, and when the flowers
are fully opened, they fold back close to the main stem.
In the centre of each flower there is a long, thin seed-vessel. After
all the white petals have fallen off, these seed-vessels grow into fat
green beaks, each on a short stalk, and with two green points at the
end.
The Wild Chervil is easily recognised by these clusters of green
beak-like seed-vessels.
The leaves of the Wild Chervil are pale green, with fern-like divisions.
Wherever they join the main stem there is a broad sheath.
The Wild Chervil has a stem which is deeply grooved. This stem is not
spotted, but you will find another Chervil, the Rough Chervil, which is
very like this one.
In it the stem is covered with purple blotches, and the leaves are
blunter and less fern-like.