UMBELLIFERiE. 129 



lules in fruit rather lax, slightly convex above. Cremocarp oblong- 

 ovoid or oblong-cylinclrical, not contracted at the apex, without a 

 distant callous ring at the base. Styles two-thirds the length of 

 the fruit. 



In wet places. Common and generally distributed in England ; 

 more rare in Scotland, though extending as far North as Moray, 

 Aberdeen, and Argyleshire. 



England, Scotland, Ireland. Perennial. Summer. 



Koot-fibres very large, often as thick as a man's finger, with 

 yellow or colourless juice. Stems erect, 2 to 4 feet high, with the 

 stem very stout and much branched towards the upper j)art, tough, 

 hollow. Leaves very large, broadly triangular in outline, twice- or 

 thrice-pinnate, the radical and lower ones on rather short sheath- 

 ing petioles ; upper ones with the petioles very short and dilated 

 throughout ; segments of the stem-leaves narrower than those of 

 the root-leaves. Umbels of 12 to 40 rays, 1 to 3 inches long ; umbel- 

 lules rather lax, slightly radiant. Involucre absent or of many leaves ; 

 involucels of numerous persistent leaves. Cremocarp light-brown, 

 striated, i to -^^ inch long. Plant deep-green, glabrous, shining. 



I have a specimen from Mr. J. G. Baker, collected at Eaglescliff, 

 Durham, which quite agrees with Bourgeau s Portuguese specimens 

 named (E. apiifolia by Dr. Cosson : but the narrower and more 

 elongate form of fruit, which alone distinguishes it from the ordi- 

 nary (E. crocata, seems to depend solely on the lesser development 

 of the mass of corky tissue at the angles of the commissural face 

 of the mericarps. 



Semlock Water- Dropioort, 



French, (EnantJoe (t Sue Jaune. 



This is one of the most poisonous of our native plants. It somewhat resembles 

 celei'y in its general appearance, and has been mistaken for that esculent with terrible 

 results. Possibly none of our native plants have been the cause of fatal accidents so 

 frequently as this. The utmost caution is therefore necessary in observing the dis- 

 tinctive characters of wild plants befoi'e partaking of them ; and this can scarcely be 

 secured without that cultivation of the observing faculties which some knowledge of 

 botany necessitates, and which is best effected during the eai'ly years of education. 

 The authenticated instances of poisoning from the use of this plant are very numerous. 

 During the last war with France, some French prisoners, who were allowed to walk 

 about Pembroke, dug up a quantity of the plant, mistaking it for celery, and ate the 

 leaves with their bread and butter, and likewise some of the roots. Two of them died 

 shortly afterwards, and the rest were seriously ill from the effects of the poison. Sir 

 William Watson relates a case of eight young lads near Clonmel, in Ireland, mistaking 

 its roots for those of the water-parsnip, and eating them ; in consequence of which five 

 of them died. Mr. Miller informed the same author that a whole family at Battersea 

 ■were poisoned by it. So virulent are the properties of this plant, that its scent is said 



VOL. IV. S 



