Wisconsin's rare plants

Spreading chervil is an erect forb, 20-60cm tall, with compound umbels of tiny, white, 5-parted flowers. The umbellets are subtended by conspicuous bracts that are wider than the rays. It appears to have weak, spreading, smooth or sparsely hairy stems that branch from the base. Its fruit are glabrous, narrowly elliptic or oblong, 5-10mm long, broadest near the middle, with thread-like ribs. Its fern-like leaves are usually hairless and have oblong to egg-shaped leaf segments.

It can be distinguished from the similar-looking Osmorhiza claytonii by its annual, weak-stemmed habit, glabrous fruit and ovaries, and more finely divided leaves. It can be distinguished from from Anthriscus sylvestris by size, wild chervil is usually 1-2m tall.

Blooming occurs late-April through late-May, fruiting throughout May.

Annual. The optimal identification period for this species is late-April through early-May.

Associated species include Acer saccharinum, A negundo, Celtis occidentalis, Fraxinus pennsylvanica, Ranunculus abortivus, Phlox divaricata, Galium aparine, Clematis virginiana, and Rudbeckia laciniata.

Spreading chervil is found in rich alluvial deciduous forests, such as southern wet or wet-mesic forests.

Avoid broadcast spraying of herbicides and use care with spot spraying.

Because this plant is an annual, work may safely be conducted before the plants emerge or after they have developed mature seeds.

Minimize disturbance to hydrology, including soil disturbance from rutting.

Although maintaining high overall forest canopy is important, silvicultural techniques that open small gaps in the canopy may be beneficial to this species. Seedlings and saplings of some species in openings may need to be protected from deer browse.

Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN) are associated with habitats (or natural communities) and places on the landscape. Understanding relationships among SGCN, natural communities and ecological landscapes help us make decisions about issues affecting SGCN and their habitat and how to respond. Download the Wildlife Action Plan association score spreadsheet to explore rare species, natural communities and ecological landscape associations

Conservation actions respond to issues or threats, which adversely affect species of greatest conservation need (SGCN) or their habitats. Besides actions such as restoring wetlands or planting resilient tree species in northern communities, research, surveys and monitoring are also among conservation actions described in the Wisconsin Wildlife Action Plan because lack of information can threaten our ability to successfully preserve and care for natural resources.