90 ENGLISH BOTANY. 



with red. Involucre of small trianj^ular hooded leaves. Petals 

 entire, boat-shaped. Cremocarp much broader than long, y^ inch 

 broad, much compressed, constricted at the line of the commissure, 

 with the lateral pair of ridges of each mericarp prominent ; dorsal 

 ridge generally prominent, so that the back of each mericarp is 

 keeled ; the intermediate ridges are frequently obliterated, but some- 

 times are almost as conspicuous as the others. Plant glabrous, 

 except the top of the leaf-stalks, and occasionally the veins of the 

 leaves on the under side, which have white spreading hairs. Leaves 

 shining, bearing much resemblance to those of Cotyledon Umbilicus, 

 except that they are not fleshy, and have no central depression. 



Marsh Fennyioort. 



French, Hydrocotyle Vulgaire. German, Gemeni^r Wassemabel. 



There is a notion among farmers and others that this plant is injurious to sheep 

 or cattle that may feed upon it, and it has accordingly been called white rot and fluke- 

 wort. Gerarde tells us that there " is a kind of navel wort that groweth in watery 

 places which is called of the husbandman sheep's bane, because it killeth sheep that 

 do eat thereof." The error in this notion is in ascribing the mischief to any particular 

 plant rather than to the situation which favours the growth of the plant, and engenders 

 disease in the animals. Were the ground drained, the marsh-loving plants would dis- 

 appear, but so also would the illness in the sheep which fed in the pasture. Many 

 calamities among cattle are by ignorant farmers attributed to their feeding on these 

 marsh plants, which in reality result from the boggy damp grounds on which they live, 

 and on which alone such plants will grow. Were the plants gathered and given to the 

 animals on dry ground, we feel sure no harm would come to them. Gerarde tells us 

 that " the Water Pennywort is of an hot and ulcerating quality, like to the Crowfeet, 

 whereof it is a kinde. The ignorant apothecaries doe use the Water Pennywort instead 

 of this of the wall, which they cannot doe without great error, and much danger to the 

 patient ; for husbandmen know well that it is noisome unto sheepe and other cattele 

 that feed thereon, and for the most part bringeth death unto them, much more to men 

 by a stronger reason." The same old author tells us that the Marsh Pennywort is to 

 be found " upon the bogges on Hampstead heath, and many such rotten grounds in 

 other places." It was gathered in the same place by the writer not long since. 



Tbibe II.— SANICULE^. 



Cremocarp neither laterally nor dorsally compressed, often 

 crowned by the calyx - teeth ; columella adnate to the meri- 

 carps ; mericarps with 5 primary ridges, the lateral or all the 

 ridges sometimes obsolete, generally clothed with scales, tuber- 

 cles, or hooked prickles. Plowcrs in simple or irregularly- 

 compound umbels or heads. 



