Fool's Parsley (Aethusa Cynapium), an umbelliferous plant, common as a weed in gardens and fields in Britain, and in most parts of Europe, somewhat resembling parsley in its foliage and general appearance, so that serious accidents have occurred from its being mistaken for that herb; for it is a poisonous plant, somewhat resembling hemlock in its properties. With the curled variety of parsley it cannot easily be confounded; the leaves are smaller and glossy, and have a disagreeable garlic-like odour when rubbed. The growth is annual, but at first more rapid than that of true parsley. When in flower it is readily known from every other plant in British gardens by its umbels wanting general involucres, but having upon the secondary umbels partial involucels of three slender leaves hanging down on one side.
(Ethusa Cynapium):
a, umbel.