Chervil
Family Umbelliferae (or Apiaceae)
Anthriscus cerefolium, chervil (A. cerefolium 1) (A. cerefolium 2), is a slightly hairy annual, up to 60 cm high, with 3-pinnate leaves resembling parsley, and small white flowers in umbels up to 5 cm in diameter. The fruit is comparatively large, about 12 mm long, with a ridged beak.
Distribution and use
Chervil is a native of East Europe, western Asia and Russia, and has naturalised in many other countries. In the Middle Ages chervil was used medicinally to cure gallstones. Today the young leaves are used fresh in salads and soups and for garnishing. It is very popular in France and Belgium, where it is an ingredient of all mixtures of ‘fines herbes’ .