m PENTANDRIA— DIGYNIA. Cicuta. 



pale, depressed base, subsequently still more dilated, and crown- 

 ing the oblong-ovate //Hi/!, being tipped with the scarcely elon- 

 gated styles and spreading blunt stigmas. Seeds oblong, strongly 

 ribbed, with small intermediate ribs alternate with the 3 princi- 

 pal ones. 



The whole herb is slightly aromatic ; the seeds more pungent. 



I have been anxious to preserve the natural genus of Sison, which 

 Linnaeus had the skill to detect, and, according to his principles, 

 to define. The fructification accurately examined will, I trust, 

 suffice to distinguish it ; if not, the firr,t species must be removed 

 to Slum, where many authors have placed it, and with the se- 

 cond species of which, angustifoliam, its fruit too nearly accords, 

 unless that species should be made a Sison, which is not advisa- 

 ble. In either case Sison segeium must remain ; and, if I mis- 

 take not, the exotic S. Jmmij whose seeds likewise have inter- 

 mediate ribs. 



149. CICUTA. Cowbane. 



Linn. Gen. 141. Fl. Br. 322. Spreng. Prodr. 19. 

 Cicutaria. Juss. 22\. Lam. t. 195. 



Fl. uniform, perfect, and nearly regular. Cal. superior, of 

 5 broad, acute, somewhat unecjual, permanent leaves. 

 PeL 5, ovate, or slightly heart-shaped, with an incurved 

 point, all nearly equal. Filam. thread-shaped, spreading, 

 about as long as the corolla. AntJi. roundish. Germ, in- 

 ferior, hemispherical, compressed, ribbed. Styles thread- 

 shaped, short, erect, scarcely tumid at the base; subse- 

 quently elongated, spreading, and permanent. Stigmas ob- 

 tuse, almost capitate. Floral Receptacle depressed, wither- 

 ing. Fruit nearly orbicular, heart-shaped at the base, a 

 little compressed, crowned with the permanent calyx con- 

 cealing the fl. receptacle, and with the recurved elongated 

 styles. Seeds hemispherical, tumid, each with 3 double 

 dorsal ribs; ihew juncture contracted. 



Perennial, fetid, poisonous, aquatic herbs. Leaves once or 

 twice ternate, sharply serrated, pointed, smooth. Umbels 

 lateral and terminal, large, with numerous general and 

 partial rays. Bracteas linear; the geiieral 07ies few, or 

 none. FL numerous, white. Fruit rather small. 



1. C. virosa. Water Cowbane. Water Hemlock. 



Leaves twice ternate ; leaflets linear-lanceolate, decurrent. 



C. virosa. Lijin.Sp. Pl.366. Willd. v. ]. \ 445. Fl. Br. 322. Engl. 

 Bot.v.7.t.479. Woodv.Suppl.t.2G8. Hook. Scot. 92. Fl. Dan. 

 t. 208. Gunn. Norveg. p. 1 . 26. t. 2. 



