Help to ID a weed

LaurieLovesLearning

This weed is so carrot-like. Is this biennial wormwood? Are the plants on the left side of the picture younger versions of the same?

It is on the north side of a building, do full shade, in sandy soil.

Torey

The smaller plants on the left look like wormwood. Not sure about the carrot-looking one. I'm sure I've seen it before but can't quite place it. I don't think the leaves are fine enough for it to be caraway. Chervil, maybe?

jowitt.europe

To me it looks like chervil. It would be useful to see, how the side stems are connected to the main stem. The leaves taste a bit like a carrot.

the one on the left looks like wormwood.

Michelle D

I'm really interested to see if anyone has the answer to this. I have had multiple plants similar to if not that one around my property over the last few years. I have not been able to identify them.

Torey

@Michelle D There are 483 genus' in the Apiaceae (carrot) family making identification a bit tricky, particularly as some of them are deadly poisonous. I have one of the most poisonous members in my area, Cicuta douglasii. Some of them have such variation in the leaf they can be difficult to identify down to the species level. Be very cautious of any carrot family that is growing close to water.

Torey

I should have mentioned the odour of the plants. The wormwood will have a strong scent somewhat reminiscent of Absorbine. Chervil will have a slight anise scent.

LaurieLovesLearning

@jowitt.europe @torey Here is another picture.

Hassena

Well the plant you don't want it to be is poison hemlock. Here is some id info.

Apiaceae is a big family and most (maybe all) flower in the second year, making id-ing even more fun.

https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/poison-hemlock-identification-and-control

Hope some folks can shed more light.

Michelle D

We definitely have plenty of hemlock showing up in this area. The weeds aren't around long enough for me to see if they have umbrels the second year. I don't play around with any of these weeds. As soon as I see something that reminds me of a carrot in a place that I didn't plant carrots it comes out! I can't take a chance with how many kids I have running around.

nicksamanda11

I definitely tend to be prudent with weeds and not fearful.

I did not realize that there were so many carrot family members- wow.

vickeym

That is one that I am very careful of. I'm not good yet at identifying my local weeds. Some I have done good with but not all. I am growing some wormwood but there is only a few plants so far. Will see if any new ones come up this year.

LaurieLovesLearning

It has buds.

LaurieLovesLearning

Here are the suggestions eNaturalist gave me of similar plants close by. Some of these are white flowering, so of course, those are out.

Corydalis Micrantha (Smallflower fumewort)

Corydalis pallida

Corydalis Aurea (scrambled eggs)...I read this is hardy to zone 6, so this is not likely it and the person who I'D it close by was most likely incorrect. It is probably in Zone 3b-4.

These are the top matches I have from this list.

jowitt.europe

@LaurieLovesLearning well, it is not a chervil. The leaves are rounded and this flower looks very different. I attach a photo of the chervil (anthriscus cerefolium) which I just picked. The stems look the same, but the leaves and flowers are different

Torey

Now that it has flowered, I think you are right @LaurieLovesLearning. Probably the Corydalis micrantha that you mentioned.

I haven’t studied Corydalis in any detail before and didn’t have a page on it in my personal materia medica. So I’ve done a deeper dive into this. I found a few articles I had stored, on corydalis so I’ve compiled this bit of info.

Corydalis was in the Fumariaceae family but that family in now considered a sub family of the Papaveraceae family.

It comes in several colours including a stunning blue and a beautiful deep purple, depending on the species.

Actions: Sedative. Analgesic. Nervine. Antispasmodic. Muscle relaxant. Antiseptic. Emmenagogue. Cardiotonic.

The species most widely used in TCM is C. yanhusuo, although C. aureus may also be used. It can be found in combinations for abdominal or menstrual pain and cramping. It is said to invigorate the blood.

C. adunca is used for liver and gallbladder issues in Tibetan medicine.

7Song has C. aureus in a list of plants for the nervous system for its sedative properties.

I couldn’t find any reference for medicinal properties of C. micrantha other than as an emetic by First Nations.

Aviva Romm recommends Corydalis and Jamaican Dogwood for dysmenorrhea. Another formula for dysmenorrhea includes Corydalis, Crampbark and Ginger.

In an article from the Herbal Academy, they quote the Herbarium:

“Western herbalists make use of golden smoke and other species for addressing issues in the central and peripheral nervous systems, including chronic pain, neuralgia, insomnia related to circular thinking or emotional/psychological over extension, nerve pain, muscle spasm, and nervous system disorders including Parkinson’s and Meniere’s diseases (Skenderi, 2003).”

The East West School of Herbology mentions Corydalis in an article on Stagnation as a blood-moving herb.

FlorAlchemy Flower Essences says this about Wild Corydalis Flower Essence:

“Wild Corydalis Flower Essence is an energetic cleanser boldly moving through stagnation and blockages to create improved flow and increased feelings of well-being. This one is especially effective when applied topically to the acupuncture meridians or areas of the body that need increased circulation and flow.”

Corydalis is available as a tincture or powder but can be found in creams for back pain.

Definitely not for use during pregnancy.