120 
WILD FLOWERS OF THE BRITISH ISLES 
SHEPHERD'S NEEDLE. (SCANDIX, LINN.) — Flowers white, in very few clusters of 
shortly-stalked flowers, all starting from the same point on longer stalks, which longer stalks have 
one common starting-point on the main flowering-stalk (compound umbels). Bracts 
surrounding the entire cluster o, those surrounding each separate flower cluster numerous. Calyx 
entirely combined with the seedcase, without teeth ; petals 5, unequal, with the tip bent inwards, 
not notched; stamens 5; carpels 2. Fruit oblong, with 10 ridges, lengthened into a very long, 
slender, smooth beak, composed of 2 united cases, each containing 1 hanging seed (cremocarp). 
Herbs with leaves divided and sub-divided to the midrib into several pairs of deeply-lobed 
(pinnatifid) leaflets, and 1 terminal one (bi-imparipinnate). The leaf-stalks sheathing at the base. 
Common Shepherd’s Needle or Venus’ Comb. (Seandix Peeten-Veneris, Linn.}— 
The only British species (as just described above). A small plant, with very few clusters of minute, 
white, almost stalkless flowers ; long beaked fruits ; stems 3-9 inches high, and narrow leaflets with 
strap-like lobes. [Plate 57. 
Common in cultivated ground. June — September. Annual. 
BEAKED PARSLEY. (ANTHRISCUS, BERNH.) — Flowers white, in clusters of shortly-stalked 
flowers, each cluster starting from the same point on longer stalks, which longer stalks have one 
common starting-point on the main flowering-stalk (compound umbel). Bracts surrounding the 
entire cluster o or rarely 1 ; those surrounding each separate cluster several, entire (simple). Calyx 
entirely combined with the seedcase, without teeth ; petals 5, unequal, with the tip bent inwards, 
apparently notched ; stamens 5 ; carpels 2. Fruit oval, with 10 obscure ridges, shortly-beaked at 
the tip, composed of 2 united cases, each containing 1 hanging seed (cremocarp). Hairy herbs 
with leaves divided and sub-divided to the midrib into several deeply lobed (pinnatifid) leaflets and 
1 terminal one (bi-imparipinnate). Leaf-stalks sheathing at the base. 
Common Beaked Parsley. (Anthriscus vulgaris, Bernh.)— As just described. The 
flowers white, the clusters on very short stalks, with 4-5 lance-shaped, fringed bracts surrounding 
each little flower cluster ; fruit oblong, 2-seeded, covered with short, hooked spines, and lengthened 
into a short, smooth beak ; the stem 2-3 feet high, smooth, branched, hairy, swollen below the 
nodes ; the leaves hairy, divided, sub-divided, and the lower ones even again sub-divided to the 
midrib into several pairs of bluntly lobed and toothed leaflets and 1 terminal one (bi- or 
tri-imparipinnate) ; with the leaf-stalks sheathing at the base. The whole plant light green, very full 
of leaves and flower clusters. 
Not common. Waysides, hedges, and waste places. May — June. Annual. 
Wild Beaked Parsley. (Anthriscus sylvestris, Hoffm.) — A very similar species to 
the last, with the flower clusters on longer stalks ; 3-7 lance-shaped, pointed, fringed bracts round 
each little flower cluster ; the fruit smooth, narrowly oval, without any ridges, and hardly beaked ; the 
stem 2-4 feet high, erect, hollow, furrowed, branched, hairy, often reddish ; the leaves hairy, only 
twice divided to the midrib into broader, more coarsely toothed leaflets and 1 terminal one 
(bi-imparipinnate). One of our earliest flowering plants. [ Plate 49. 
Very common. Waysides, hedges, and waste places. April — June. Perennial. 
^Garden Chervil. (Anthriscus Cerefolium, Hoffm.) — Not a native. Very similar to 
the last two species, with the flower clusters opposite the leaves and almost stalkless, with the 
fruit smooth and with a long beak, the stem more slender, and the leaves much divided. 
Rare. An escape from cultivation. Hedges and waste ground. May — June. Annual. 
SPIGNEL. (MEUM, ADANS.) — Flowers white or pink, in clusters of shortly-stalked flowers, all 
rising from the same point on longer stalks, which longer stalks have one common starting-point 
