267 



cincts, and commands a splendid view of the Bristol Channel, the Flat and Steep 

 Holmes, and the opposite coast of Somerset. While waiting for the arrival of 

 the mail to proceed to Swansea, I investigated the environs of the town, which 

 proved, however, rather unproductive. 



* (Enanthe crocata ? I perceived in some quantity in flower, overspreading a 

 marshy spot in a field by the side of the Cardiff road. I afterwards noticed this 

 plant in several other parts of South Wales, where it appears to grow profusely. 

 Since Sir W. J. Hooker introduced the CE. apiifolia of Professor Brotero into 

 the British Flora, from the information of Mr. Banks, of Plymouth, this " Celery- 

 leaved Water Drop-wort" has found its way into six counties, but I cannot help 

 suspecting that here a distinction has been introduced " without a difference." 

 Botanists had taken up a notion (how true I am unable to say) that CE. crocata al- 

 ways abounded in a yellow juice. Hence Mr. Banks, finding a similar plant with " no 

 peculiar juices," is induced to consider it a new species, entirely on that account. 

 Now, certainly, if the existence or non-existence of the supposed " yellow fetid 

 juice" makes the plant before us either CE. crocata or CE. apiifolia, why then 

 my plant is the latter. But the question arises whether this " poisonous yellow 

 juice" is constant in CE. crocata, or whether it really appears at all ? I have 

 met with the plants abundantly on the banks of the Teme, Worcestershire, and, 

 though frequently gathering it, never verified the emission of the " orange-coloured, 

 fetid, very poisonous juice," which, according to Sir J. E. Smith, ought to exude 

 from " all parts of the herb when wounded." It is remarkable that Sir W. J. 

 Hooker merely observes " full, it is said, of a poisonous yellow juice," and intro- 

 duces CE. apiifolia " with some hesitation." I cannot conceive the two plants to be 

 essentially different, especially in the absence of any recent witnesses of the emis- 

 sion of yellow fetid juice from the CE. crocata, which very probably, if it appear at 

 all, is only at peculiar seasons, or in very variable quantities. Dr. Woodville, in his 

 account of CE. crocata in the Medical Botany,* says not a word about yellow juice, 

 though anxious to warn his readers on account of its poisonous qualities, being by 

 Dr. Poultney " esteemed to be the most deleterious of all the vegetables which 

 this country produces." Brotero's name implies the similarity of his plant to 

 Celery, and Woodville states that three French prisoners residing at Pembroke 

 mistook the CE. crocata for ivild celery, and, presenting it to their comrades, had 

 nearly caused the death of the whole of them, and two actually died from partak- 

 ing of it. The death of five boys in Ireland from the same circumstance is also 

 recorded. I should fear mischief from the use of the term apiifolia, unless it 

 can he satisfactorily shewn that the plant intended is innoxious, and differs in other 



* Supplement, quarto edition, p. 143. In the second edition of Withering, under the 

 co-editorship of the late Dr. Stokes, a most acute botanist, the yellow juice of CE. crocata is 

 unnoticed. 



2 m2 



