360 HOLOSCIADIUM. [class v. order II. 



common stalk long channeled, dilated at the base, and sheathing, 

 bearing about three pairs of ovate-lanceolate leaves, and an odd one 

 at the end, having a slender mid- rib, and numerous finely branched 

 veins, the margins blunt, and somewhat irregularly serrated, of a 

 shining green, paler beneath, the terminal leaf is sometimes united to 

 the two upper ones, and the margins cut, as well as serrated. Umbels 

 lateral, opposite the leaves, and either sessile or on a short stalk ; the 

 <jfene>Y// of about six slender angular mostly unequal rays; the partial 

 of numerous short nearly equal pedicles. FUnvers white. General 

 involucre oi one segment, or mostly wanting; the partial of five or 

 six lanceolate segments, about the length of the umbel, pale green, 

 with three to six ribs, and a narrow membranous margin. Calt/x 

 limb an obtuse margin. Petals o\ate, somewhat incurved, with a 

 lanceolate point. S tajnens od slender awl-shaped ^7awe??<s. Anthers 

 roundish, of two cells. Sli/les very short. Disk large, fleshy, de- 

 pressed. Fruit with the sides compressed, ovate, the ridyes prominent, 

 obtuse, pale, channels with slender vittcB. Alhxnnen rounded at the 

 back, plain in front. 



Habitat. — Sides of lakes, rivers, and in drains; frequent. 



Perennial; flowering in July and August. 



The juice of this plant has been recommended for the cure of some 

 diseases of the skin ; two table spoons full, mixed with a little milk. 

 It has not any unpleasant taste, and may be administered without 

 difficulty to children, and in some cases it has been found beneficial ; 

 but it is not now in much use, except amongst the country people, 

 and they not unfreqnently eat it as a salad, mixed with the leaves of 

 the common water cress, for which it is indiscriminately gathered, a 

 mistake of no consequence to the consumer, if his palate does not 

 detect it. 



2. //. re'pens, Kuch. (Fig. 424.) creeping Marsh-wort. Stem 

 creeping and rooting at the joints ; leaves pinnate, roundish, ovale, 

 lobed, unequally toothed and serrated; umbels on short peduncles, 

 opposite the leaves. 



Hooker, British Flora, vol. i. p. 128. — Lindlcy, Synopsis, p. 122. — 

 Slum, rejtens, Linn. — English Botany, t. 1431. — English Flora, vol. 

 ii. p. 58. 



i?()o< of long slender much branched fibres. /S/fWfs several, round, 

 smooth, finely striated, creeping, putting out roots from the {.xis of the 

 branches, which arc distant, alternate, and bearing but few leaves, 

 from six to ten inches long. Leaves on long channeled footstalks, 

 dilated and sheathing at the base, with thin membranous edges, 

 leaflets from three to five pairs, and an odd one at tlit end, roundish, 

 ovate, sometimes lobed, unc(|ually toothed anu serrated, the terminal 

 one mostly three loltcd, finely veined, (mhcls (ij)posilc the leaves, on 



