370 CORRESPONDENCE. 



and lifts it out of the calyx, at a time when the spike is necessarily kept in an 

 erect situation by a throng of taller Grasses surrounding them. A most beautiful 

 and curious contrivance of Nature, without which, or some similar provision, the 

 seed in wet seasons would be apt to vegetate in the husks, and the young plants 

 in consequence become abortive. — Rev. J. Swayne. 



Anthriscus. — AvQpio-xos, from avfyno-x*, flowers. 



Anthriscus vulgaris, Common Beaked Parsley, Hough Chervil. — Miller tells 

 us there have been some instances of serious ill effect from this plant when taken 

 in soups by mistake. Curtis obverves that when luxuriant, as in moist situa- 

 ions, it affects somewhat the appearance of Hemlock (Conium maculatum), but 

 may be distinguished from it by its leaves being slightly hairy, more finely 

 divided and of a paler green ; the absence of the dark spots on the stem, and also 

 the absence of a general involucrum, will serve readily to distinguish this plant j 

 the seeds in Hemlock are smooth, but in this plant rough, nor has it the strong 

 disagreeable smell of Hemlock, but more resembles that of the Common Chervil, 

 to which it is in habit somewhat allied. 



Anthyllis. — From euiQos, a flower, and iovXos, a beard or down ; from the downy 

 calyxes ; or from avOvXXu, diminutive of «»0or, a flower. 



Anthyllis vulneraria, Kidney Vetch, Ladies'-finger, Lamb- toe. — As a vulnerary, 

 its utility is at least problematical ; though in Threlkeld's time (1727) it was 

 regularly sold in Dublin market " by the name of Stanch, being astringent." A 

 yellow dye may be obtained from it. Where the soil was a reddish Clay, 

 LinNjEUS remarked the blossoms to be red, but in white Clay, white. In Portugal 

 Withering states to have always found them red. In England, most commonly, 

 as the rustic poet observes, — 



" The yellow Lamb toe I have often got, 

 Sweet creeping o'er the banks in sunny time.'' 



Goats and Cows eat it, and the herbage is said to afford good pasturage for Sheep. 

 Though not in cultivation, Mr. Salisbury considers it well worth attention, as, 

 where it flourishes most (in calcareous soil), Cows produce better milk and in 

 greater quantity. Gesner, it appears, first raised the report of the vulnerary 

 properties of this plant, which perhaps, like other soft and downy applications, 

 may, on an emergency, staunch the blood of a rustic wound, and give Nature 

 and a good constitution time to effect a cure. 



