UMBELLIFEll^. 97 



tripinnate or triternate leaves. Involucre none ; involucels of 

 many bracts. Elowers white, in large regular umbels. 



The derivation of the name of this genus of plants seems somewhat doubtful. We 

 find it given by some writers as coining from the Latin words cieo or quatio, I cause 

 to shake ; by others, from ccucus, hidden or blind. Cicuta was a plant with a hollow 

 stem, used by the Italian shepherds to make pipes or whistles. 



SPECIES I— C I C U T A V I R O S A. Linn. 



Plate DLXXI. 



Edch. Ic. Fl. Germ, et Helv. Vol. XXI. Tab. 1853. 

 Billot, Fl. Gall, et Germ. Exsicc. No. 2G81. 



E>oot-fibres slender. E-ootstock short, prsemorsc, hollow, with 

 transverse partitions. E-adical leaves bipinnate ; ultimate leaflets 

 or segments strapshaped-elliptical, entire or cleft, coarsely and 

 unequally serrate. 



In ditches and the margins of lakes. Local, though widely 

 distributed, occurring from Somerset to Eorfarshire and Dum- 

 bartonshire ; most frequent about the Norfolk broads. 



England, Scotland, Ireland. Perennial. Summer 

 and Autumn. 



Stem erect, branched, hollow, 1 to 4^ feet high. Lower leaves 

 very large, triangular or lanceolate in outline, on thick hollow 

 petioles, with the pinnae again pinnate ; the secondary pinnae 

 undivided or 2- or 3-cleft or partite or pinnatifid, 1 to 3 inches 

 long, varying in breadth from ^ to f inch ; stem-leaves much smaller 

 and less compound. Umbels flat-topped, lax, stalked, terminal or 

 (from the growth of an axillary branch) opposite the leaves ; rays 

 of the umbels* 1 to 2 inches long ; pedicels ^ to f inch long. Invo- 

 lucre none ; involucel of numerous linear tapering leaves, shorter 

 than the flowers. Plowers \ inch across, white. Calyx-teeth ovate, 

 much shorter than the petals, persistent. Petals roundish-obovate, 

 spreading, slightly notched, with a small inflexed lobe. Cremocarp 

 with the breadth greater than the length, which is ^-q inch, reddish- 

 brown, with the vittse apparent when dry ; ridges broad, little 

 elevated ; styles long, reflexed. 



Water Hemlock. 



French, Cicutaire veneneuse. German, Giftiger Wiitherig. 



This plant is also known by the name of Cowbane, and is one of the most virulent 

 of our vegetable poisons. It was formerly used for medicinal purposes, but has been 



* Throughout the whole of the order XJmbelliferae, the measurements given of the 

 rays is that of the exterior or longest i-ays when in fruit. 

 VOL. IV. O 



