310 



Clafs Pentandria. Ord, Dlgynia. Lin, Gen, Plant, 362. 



i 



E/f, Gen, Ch, Fru6lus ellipticus, comprefTo-planus. Fetala involuta 



Integra. 



Ch, P. foliis pinnatis : follolls bafi antica excifis. Syjl, Veg. 



THE root Is perennial, thick, flefhy, tapering like the garden 

 parfnep : the ftalk is flrong, branched, rough towards the bottom, and 

 rifes feven or eight feet in height : the leaves are pinnated, confiftin^ 

 of feveral pairs of pinnse, which are oblong, ferrated, veined, aiid 

 towards the bafe appear unformed on the upper fide ; the flowers are 

 fmall, of a yellowifh colour, and terminate the Hem and branches in 

 fiat umbels : the general and partial umbels are compofed of many- 

 radii : the general and partial involucra are commonly both wanting: 

 all the florets are fertile, and have an uniform appearance : the petals 

 are five, lance-fhaped, and curled inwards: the five filaments are 

 fpreading, curved, longer than the petals, and furnifhed with roundifh 

 antherai : the germen is placed below the corolla, fupporting two re- 

 flexed flyles, which are fupplied with blunt ftigmata : the fruit is 

 elliptical, comprefled, divided into two parts, containing two 

 feeds, encompafl^ed with a narrow border. It is a native of the South 

 of Europe, and flowers in June and July. 



This fpecies of Parfnep was cultivated in 1 73 1 by Mr. P. Miller, 

 who obferves that its " roots are large, fweet, and accounted very 

 nourifhing, " therefore recommended for cultivation in kitchen-gar- 

 dens.'' It bears the cold of our climate very well, and commonly 

 maturates its feeds, and its juice here manifefts fome of thofe qualities 

 which are difcovered in the officinal opopanax ;" but it is only in the 

 warm regions of the Eaft, and where this plant is a native, that its juice 

 .concretes into this gummy refinous drug, Opopanax Is obtained by 



See his Di£i. 



»» Alfton fays, « with regard to thefe plants growing here, X venture to fay, that, \i 

 their juice be .not the opopanax, it is very like it." M. M. v. ii. p. 443. 



^ We find no account of the rnanner of obtaining this drug fince that mentioned by 

 JJodonaeus, Pempu (p. 309.) & ^occone, (1. c.^ 



means 



m- 





