212 POPULAR FIELD BOTANY. 
when full grown. The plant is small, and the flower quite 
minute, yet the seed-vessel grows to the length of two 
inches, and seven or eight of these needle-like pods project 
from one point. The leaves are divided and sub-divided 
till they are like a piece of fine sea-weed ; so that altogether 
this is an interesting little plant. It is abundant m corn- 
fields, and is well worthy of a search. 
oo 
PENTANDRIA. DIGYNIA. 
CALYCIFLORZ. APIACES. 
CONIUM. (Hemuocx.) 
Generic character. No calyx. Fruit compressed at the sides, 
ovate. Universal involucre, (little leaves under the umbels,) of 
few leaves ; partial of three leaves on one side. 
Contum MacuLatuM. Common Hemlock. ‘This is a very 
poisonous plant, and is best distinguished from other umbel- 
liferous plants by its spotted stem, bad smell, one-sided in- 
volucres, and the waved ridges of the fruit. The leaves are 
large, much divided, when bruised giving out a disagreeable 
odour. It grows from two to four feet high, in waste 
places, banks, and under walls. 
