THAPSIA. 



of Cyrene by Delia Cella*, seems to set the question at rest. It is the 

 only umbelliferous plant inhabiting those regions, which will at all 

 answer to the figures struck on the Cyrenean coins (see frontispiece 

 ofViviani's Fl. Libyc, and Penny Cyclopccdia, vol. viii. p. 265.), and this 

 agrees as well with such rude representations as can be expected from 

 any plant. While, however, it may be considered certain that the 

 Silphion of Cyrene was yielded by Thapsia Silphion, it by no means 

 follows that all the' Silphion came from that species. On the contrary 

 Pliny (Hist. Nat. lib. xxii. c. 23.) expressly states that in his time it 

 was chiefly imported from Syria, the worst sort being the Parthian, the 

 Median of better quality, and that of Cyrene altogether lost. 



LASERPITIUM. 



Calyx a 5-toothed rim. Petals obovate, emarginate, with an 

 inflected lobe. Fruit compressed from the back or somewhat 

 taper, 8-winged ; namely the half-fruits with 5 primary filiform 

 ridges, and 4 winged secondary ones. A vitta in the channel 

 below each secondary ridge. — Herbaceous plants. Leaves 

 2-3-pinnate ; segments entire, or toothed, or cut. Umbels many- 

 rayed, showy. Involucres many-leaved. Flowers white, rarely- 

 yellow. — The 8 wings of the fruit distinctly mark this genus. 



115. L. glabrum Crantz mistr. iii. 54. DC. prodr. iv. 204. 



— L. latifolium Jacq. fl. au&tr. t. 146. Fee conrs. ii. 209. 



On the mountains of the continent of Europe in dry and stony 

 places. 



Leaves bipinnate, quite smooth and shining ; the segments obliquely 

 cordate, here and there mucronate and toothed ; those of the upper 

 leaves entire. Bracts of the involucre setaceous. Wings of the fruit 

 nearly equal and rather crisp. Linnasus having applied the name of 

 L. latifolium both to this and L. asperum the former name has been 

 suppressed by De Candolle. — The root is gorged with a gum resinous 

 juice, which is acrid, bitter and even somewhat caustic. It is reckoned 

 a violent purgative. The French call it Turbith des montagnes and 

 Faux Turbith. Fee. 



DAUCUS. 



Calyx a 5-toothed edge. Petals obovate emarginate, with 

 an inflexed point, the outer generally radiating and deeply bifid. 

 Fruit somewhat compressed from the back, ovate or oblong. 

 Half-fruits with the 5 primary ridges filiform and bristly, the 

 3 middle ones at the back, the lateral on the plane of the com- 

 missure ; the 4 secondary equal, more prominent, winged, split 

 into a single row of spines. Vittae solitary in the channels 

 below the secondary ridges. — Usually biennials. Leaves bipin- 

 nate. Bracts of involucrum multifid leafy ; of involucel nume- 



* See Viaggio da Tripoli di Barberia alle frontiere occidentali dell 'Egitto. dail Dott. 

 P. Delia Cella, Genova 1819. 



53 e 3 



