Anthriscus caucalis M. Bieb   =Scandix anthriscus   Apiaceae (Carrot Family)   Eurasia   Bur-Chervil

                                              April Photo

Plant Characteristics:  Annual, more or less hispid throughout, the rather slender stems 4.5-9 dm. high; lvs. ternately compound, blade 5-15 cm. oblong to triangular-ovate, lfts. dissected, segments 1-5 mm., linear-oblong, obtuse; stipules densely ciliate; umbels usually 3-6 rayed; peduncles 0-2 cm.; involucre none or of a single small bract; bractlets small, lanceolate; pedicels 2-9 mm. long; fls. white, rays 3-6, 1-2.5 cm.; fruit ovoid, 4 mm. long including the short beak, muricate with short hooked bristles, axis notched at tip.

Habitat:  Shaded waste places and banks from Western Oregon to central California.  (Abrams Vol. III 224).  April-June.

Name:  Anthriscus,  ancient Greek name.  Greek, kaukalis, name of the hedge parsley.  (Jaeger 49).

General:  Occasional in the study area with one colony found in 1995 at and above the intersection of San Joaquin Hills Rd. with Back Bay Drive.  This colony has expanded and now is common on the north facing slope.  (my comment 2005).  Unlike the described habitat, all plants were in full sun and growing south of the normal range.  Found again in 2000 on a north-facing slope below Eastbluff and in 2004 on a north-facing slope along the road southerly of the burn area that goes from Back Bay Dr. up to the bluff level. (my comments).      An old world genus of about 10 species.  Abrams, Vol. III 224.       Not listed in Munz, Flora So. Calif.

Text Ref:  Hickman Ed. 141;  Abrams, Vol. III 224.

Photo Ref:  April-May 95 #14,15,16.

Identity: by R. De Ruff, confirmed by John Johnson.

First Found:  April 1995.

Computer Ref:  Plant Data 483.

Plant specimen given to UC Riverside in 2004..

Last Edit 6/12/05.

               April Photo                                                       April Photo