648 MANUAL OF POISONOUS PLANTS 



domestic animals. Parsley (Carum PctroseIinumy=Petroselinuin hortense), 

 native to the Mediterranean regions of Europe and Asia Minor, is used for 

 garnishing. Celery (Apium graveolens) is indigenous to Great Britain and 

 other European countries, and is found growing in low lands. There are two 

 types, the turnip rooted, cooked and eaten as a salad, and the blanched leaf 

 stalks. Celery was known to the ancient Greeks and Romans. It is said that 

 in a wild state the plant is somewhat poisonous. Some people are known to be 

 sensitive to the cultivated plant. Dill (Ancthtiin graveolens), containing dill oil 

 and caraway (Carum Carvi), were known to the ancients. The essential oil of 

 caraway is obtained from the seed, which is used in Europe to flavor bread and 

 meats and contains carvol Cj^H^^O. Dill (Peucedanuni graveolens) is 

 commonly used in flavoring pickles and salads. Cummin seeds from Cxi)nitinm 

 sativum resemble those of caraway in odor and taste. 



Many members of the order have medicinal properties. Among the more 

 important of these are the Indian pennywort (Centella asiatica), and poison hem- 

 lock {Conium macula turn) , which contains the alkaloid coniin, which is deadly 

 poisonous. The caraway "seeds," fennel "seeds" (Foenicuhim vtilgare), the 

 latter indigenous to the Caspian Sea regions, and yielding ancthol, also contain 

 fenchone, irigonellin and chulin. 



The anise seeds (Pimpinella Anisuin), containing the oil of anise, are used 

 in confectionery. Asafoetida (Ferula Narthex) native to Thibet and western 

 Asia, obtained from the milky juice of this plant, is used in medicine, and by 

 the Persians as a condiment. The button snake root (.Eryngium yuccaefolium). 

 the cow parsnip (Heracleum lanatum), and the water hemlock (Cicuta macu- 

 lata), are common plants in the northern states. The leaves and roots of the 

 fennel (Foeniculum rulgarc), used in southern Europe as table vegetables, and 

 in Germany to flavor bread and cakes, contain phellandreue Cj^H^^ and chav- 

 icol; lovage (Levisticum officinale) is found in salt marshes along the Atlantic 

 coast from Labrador to Connecticut and in Europe. The Arracacia xanthor- 

 rhiza of Peru is much used in the Andes region. The same species, known in 

 Venezuela as Arracacha and introduced into Porto Rico, is said by Fairchild 

 to be one of the most important of food plants to the peon. The roots arc 

 large and fusiform. The roots of sea holly (Eryngium maritimum) when cand- 

 ied, boiled or roasted resemble chestnuts in taste. Gum Galbanum is derived 

 from Ferula galbaniflua, and was used by the ancients for incense and per- 

 fumery. It contains cadinene and d-pinene. This is referred to in Exodus 

 25:10. Coriander (Coriandnim sativum) contains coriandrol C^^^J^. Musk 

 root or Sumbul (Ferula Sumbul) contains umlwlliferone Cj,HjjO., and angelic 

 acid CjjH^O., used as an antispasmodic. The plant occurs in Asia. Sweet 

 Cicely (Osmorhisa longistylis) yields an oil similar to anise and contains 

 ancthol. In the Umhclliferac the substance peucedone C,.H,.0,, occurs in the 

 roots of Imperaturia Ostruthium, and Pcuccdanum officinale: atliamantin- C.,^ 

 ilggOj, is found in Peucedanuni Orcoselinum : laserpiiin, C,^H,.|0^, is from 

 roots of Laser pitium latifolium; pimpinellin is obtained from the roots of 

 Pimpinella Saxifraga. Oenantlie crocata contains oenanthotoxin somewhat sim- 

 ilar to cicuioxin; thymol is found in the fruit of a great many of the Umbclli- 

 ferae; cumin oil is secreted from the fruits of Cuminum Cyminum and other 

 I)lants of this order, and contains cymene; anise seed or anise fruit contains 

 anise oil which resembles that found in star anise ; the Oenanthe Phcllandrium 



