Chervil, or Chaerophyllum, L. a genus of plants comprising seven species, two of which only are indigenous, namely,

1. The sylvestre, - or wild chervil, or smooth cow-parsley, or cow-weed chervil, which thrives in hedges, orchards, and pastures. It has a woolly striated stem, civet umbels, and white flowers, which blow in the month of May.

The umbels of this plant afford an indifferent yellow dye.; the leaves and stems a beautiful green. Its presence indicates a fruitful soil, but it ought to be eradicated from all pastures early in the spring, as cows, are the only animals that will it. LINNAEUS informs us, that the roots, when eaten as parsnips, have been found poisonous; yet, according to Mr. Curtis, they were in some parts of Britain, during times of scarcity, eaten as a pot-herb.

2. The tem. , rough cow-parsley, or rough chervil, growing in hedges, and bearing flowers in the months of July and August.— It possesses no peculiar properties.

Chervil, the Great, or Shep-herd's Needle, the Scandix odorata v. Cerefolium. See Sweet Cicely.

Chervil, the Needle, or nus Comb, the Scandix Pecten. See Common Shepherd's Needle.