Myrrhis odorata Sweet Cicely C DD N
Superficially looking like Anthriscus sylvestris (Cow Parsley), this plant, which prefers basic or neutral soils, has lighter green leaves and longer fruits (see RHS photo) but the telling characteristic is none of the visible features. Take a portion of the leaf rub it between thumb and finger and smell the fragrance of aniseed.
M. odorata is commonest in northern England, Wales and southern Scotland and is not that common in southern England. In Ireland it is found in the north.
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| Myrrhis odorata Sweet Cicely |
Chee Dale, Derbyshire 23rd May 2006
Added on November 10th 2005, updated 5th January 2011