Bulbous chervil, Parsnip chervil, Tuberous chervil, Turnip-root chervil
Chaerophyllum bulbosum

Family: Apiaceae

What it is like

A herb which takes 2 years to complete its life cycle. It has round tuber like root. The leaves are in a ring. The flowering plant can be 70 cm to 2 m tall. The stem is smooth. It is hairy near the base. The leaves on the stem are alternate, arranged in spirals and with leaflets along the stalk. The bases of the leaves sheath the stem.

Where it is found

It is a temperate plant.

Countries/locations it is found in

Armenia, Australia, Austria, Balkans, Belarus, Britain, Bulgaria, Caucasus, Czech Republic, Europe, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Hungary, Iran, Italy, Luxembourg, Mediterranean, Middle East, Moldova, North America, Poland, Romania, Russia, Scandinavia, Siberia, Slovakia, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Türkiye, Ukraine, USA, Yugoslavia

How it is used for food

The roots are eaten boiled, steamed or pureed. They can be used as a garnish with game meat. It is not peeled as this loses the flavour. The young shoots are eaten raw or in soup. They are boiled and fried with eggs. They are eaten in spring. The young stems are peeled and eaten.

It is a commercially cultivated vegetable. The raw tubers are especially eaten by children. It is sold in local markets.

Edible parts

Leaves, root, tuber, vegetable

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Baldaran, Baraboj, Bubalyka, Bubolyicska, Gemuk, Ghemias, Handok, Hilak, Homik, Kervel, Kimi, Krabilice hliznat, Krkoska, Mandak, Mendik, Mihalka, Repa, Repka, Shushan, Shushanbanjar

Synonyms

Chaerophyllum caucasicum (Fisch. & Hoffm.) Schischk.; Chaerophyllum laevigatum Vis.; Chaerophyllum neglectum N. W. Zinger; Chaerophyllum rapaceum Alef.; Chaerophyllum verticillatum Pers.; Myrrhis bulbosa Spreng.; Myrrhis tuberosa J. Jundz.; Scandix bulbosa Roth; Selinum bulbosum E. H. L. Krause;