98 



POISONOUS PLANTS 



Water-Parsnip (^Sium latifoUum, Fig. 27). — 

 This umbellifer occurs in watery places all over 

 the British Isles. The root of this, as well as of 

 the only other species we possess {S. august if oliuin), 

 is reputed deleterious ; but pigs and oxen eat 

 the stem without apparent inconvenience. Still 



it is important neverthe- 

 less not to allow cows in 

 milk to eat it, as it com- 

 municates a disagreeable 

 taste to the milk. 



Both species are easily 

 recognized by their pin- 

 nate leaves, the leaf-stalks 

 carrying about six to 

 eight pairs of ovate 

 toothed leaflets. The 

 general involucre is com- 

 posed of broadish or 

 lanceolate bracts ; and 

 there is also an involucel. 

 There are slender ribs on the fruit, with rather 

 prominent pointed calyx-teeth. 



Beaked Parsley {AntJiricus sylvestris) is only 

 too common in hay-fields, multiplying with great 

 rapidity and bearing a profusion of white flowers. 

 It is sometimes called cow or sheep's parsley ; the 

 fruits are elongated, perfectly smooth, and without 

 any ridges whatever. 



Fig. 27. Sium latifolium 

 Water-Parsnip. 



Broad 



