Definition

Noun * A poisonous European weed (Aethusa cynapium) resembling parsley: A plant that looks similar to edible parsley but is toxic, causing nausea and poisoning if ingested. It is also known as "lesser hemlock."

Usage

• The term is used specifically to identify and warn about this dangerous plant, often in botanical, foraging, or agricultural contexts.
• It functions as a compound noun where "fool's" indicates something deceptive or dangerous for the unwary.

Examples

• Identification: "Foragers must learn to distinguish true parsley from fool's parsley to avoid accidental poisoning."
• Warning: "The garden was overrun with fool's parsley, posing a risk to grazing animals."
• Description: "Fool's parsley has finely divided leaves similar to its edible lookalike but can be identified by its unpleasant smell."

Advanced Usage

• The name itself serves as a cautionary label, embedding the warning ("fool's") directly into the plant's common name.
• It is often cited in guides about poisonous plants and historical texts on herbalism.

Variants and Related Words

• Lesser hemlock: A direct synonym for fool's parsley.
• Poison parsley: Another common name emphasizing its toxicity.
• Aethusa cynapium: The scientific (Latin) name for the plant.

Synonyms

• Lesser hemlock
• Poison parsley

Notes

• Fool's parsley is a fixed compound noun. Its meaning is specific and not derived from the separate meanings of "fool" and "parsley" in a literal sense.
• There are no distinct phrasal verbs or idioms associated with this specific botanical term.

Noun

1. European weed naturalized in America that resembles parsley but causes nausea and poisoning when eaten