Common Fool's Parsley [Aethusa cynapium]

About the pest

About the weed

It is an annual, very variable in height, up to 50cm tall but usually only about 20cm on arable land. The leaves are repeatedly divided, similar to those of parsley. The small white flowers are in flat-topped flowerheads.

Key features

Flowers: Fool’s parsley has downward pointing projections (bracteoles) under each flower.

Biology

The plants germinate in spring and die back after flowering.

Symptoms & Diagnosis

Life cycle

Seed longevity: >5 years

Seed weight: 2.5 mg

Seeds/floret: 2

Seeds/plant: 500

Treatment

Management

Fool’s parsley can be controlled in arable land by grass breaks of 2-3 years and reduced by growing shading break crops. Seedlings can be successfully harrowed when small. It is not controlled by hormone herbicides. Treat when young with sulfonylureas or contact herbicides in cereals.