N. ORD.-UMBELLIFERA. 
GENUS.—PASTINAGA,* TOURN. 
SEX. SYST.—PENTANDRIA DIGYNIA. 
PASTINACA. 
PARSNIP. 
SYN.—PASTINACA SATIVA, LINN. 
COM. NAMES.—_GARDEN PARSNIP OR PARSNEP; (FR.) PANAIS POTAGER; 
(GER.) PASTINAKE. 
A TINCTURE OF THE FRESH ROOT OF PASTINACA SATIVA, LINN. 
Description.—This usually cultivated biennial herb grows to a height of from 
3 to 6 feet. oot conical, long and slender, fleshy and succulent. Stem smooth, 
deeply and plentifully grooved. Leaves pinnately compounded of 3 to 8 pairs of 
shining leaflets; leaflets ovate or oblong, obtuse cut-toothed or coarsely serrate, the 
terminal 3-lobed, all somewhat pubescent beneath; petioles sheathed, Umbels large 
and flat ; zzvolucre and involucels small or absent; flowers all perfect, none radiant. 
Calyx-teeth obsolete. Petals yellow, roundish, entire, involute ; poz broad and 
Fruit oval, flat, with a thin, single-winged margin; carfels minutely 
lateral and at or near the mar- 
2 in the commissure ; a/bumen 
retuse, 
5-ribbed, 3 of which are dorsal and equidistant, 2 
gin; wtte as long as the carpel, 1 in each sulcus, 
flat. 
—The Parsnip is a well-known culinary root, introduced 
It has now run wild in fields and waysides through- 
£ the United States, where it flowers from July to 
History and Habitat. 
into this country from Europe. 
out the central and eastern parts 0 
October. 
The root is succulent, nutritious, sweet and in its cultivated state very pleas- 
ant to many, but when wild or in its second year’s growth, it is rank and acrid 
poisonous, causing emesis and inflammation of the alimentary tract, followed by 
flatulent colic and diuresis. The seeds have been used in agues, with what cura- 
tive action I cannot state. 
In the north of Ireland a kind of beer is made by brewing the roots with hops ; 
e is also made in some places from them; and by distillation a sort of 
lar to that of the sorghum product. 
PART USED AND PREPARATION.—The roots of the second year’s growth, 
or those of wild individuals, are prepared and macerated as in the previous plant. 
The resulting tincture is almost colorless, being but slightly tinged with yellow ; 
is very gummy, has a peculiar honey-like odor, a sweet taste, and an acid reaction. 
a good win 
rum is produced simi 
* Pastus, nourishment. 
