Description and Variation:   Erect biennial or short-lived perennial with hollow stems that are downy below and smooth above. The plant stands between 1 to 4 feet tall and has many leaves that are up to 30 cm and two to three pinnate. The outer most lobes of the leaves have sharp teeth and are pubescent on the underside.  Leaflets are ovate and serrate. Inflorescence is a compound umbel of white florets.  Fruit is linear-cylindrical, notched at base, beaked, glabrous and without ribs or oil glands.

Economic Importance:  Wild chervil is native to Europe and has been introduced into northeastern United States and Canada where it has become naturalized.  The plant is noted in Western Washington in  Whatcom, Skagit, Snohomish, and Thurston counties. Some scattered populations have also been noted in Eastern Washington counties. This represents an exotic introduction to Washington, which could in turn naturalize itself as it has elsewhere, changing Washington native plant communities and negatively impacting pastures, meadows and grasslands.  A problem in 2500  ha of grassland in North Yorkshire, Oswald (1986) reports that the slow drying properties of its stems interrupt hay making.

Geographical Distribution:  Native to Europe, introduced and naturalized in the northeastern United States, northeastern Canada, and New Zealand. 

Habitat:  Wild chervil can be found in moist areas including: hedgerows, edges of woods, crop lands, stream banks, and waste places.

Response to Herbicides:    2# 2,4-D/acre on regrowth after mowing killed growing point, but caused more "tillering" and regrowth from the crown. Hand weeding can be effective if the entire taproot is removed.

Response to Cultural Methods:  Mowing is noted as not being effective.

Bio-Control Potentials:  No known research is being conducted.