UMBELLIFERJE. 139 



linear-subulate leaves. Plowers white or tinged with pink, J inch 

 across, scarcely radiant. Cremocarp J inch long, brownish-olive, 

 attenuated to each end, with very prominent almost winged ridges ; 

 interstices each with about 3, and the commissure with 6 vittae. 

 Styles short, recurved. Plant deep-green, glabrous, shining. Stem 

 generally tinged with dull-purple. 



Sea Lavage. 



French, Ligustique Levesche. German, Liehst'uchel. 



The old name of this species is said by Dr. Prior to be spelt Loveache, as though 

 it were love parsley ; corruptions of the Latin Levisticum, its original name, as are also 

 the French and German synonyms. It grows abundantly on the rocky shores of the 

 Hebrides, and the Western coast of Scotland. The leaves are there used as a green 

 vegetable, either boiled or eaten raw, under the name of Shemis. The taste is strong 

 and not very pleasant : it is not unwholesome. An infusion is used in Scotland as a 

 purgative for calves. The root possesses aromatic and carminative qualities, and has 

 been used in medicine. The Lovage of the gardens (Ligusticum levisticum), used in 

 making a liquor so called, is not a native of this country, but grows in Italy. Gerarde 

 says : " The seed of Loveage warmeth the stomach, helpeth digestion ; whei'efore the 

 people of Gennes in times past did use it in their meates, as we doe pepj)er." He adds : 

 " The distilled water of Loveage cleareth the sight, and putteth away all spots, lentils, 

 freckles, and rednesse of the face, if they be often washed therewith." 



GENUS XXII.—S I L A U S. Besser. 



Calyx-limb obsolete. Petals oblong-obovate, sessile, truncate at 

 the base, nearly entire or slightly notched, with an inflexed lobe. 

 Cremocarp oblong-ovoid, not compressed ; columella free, bipartite ; 

 mericarps with 5 prominent sharply-keeled equal ridges ; interstices 

 each with several vittse. Involucres variable. 



Plants with decompound leaves and yellowish or greenish- white 

 flowers. 



The name of this plant is one adopted by Pliny for an umbellifer resembling this 

 genus : possibly the same. 



SPECIES I.— SILAUS PRATENSIS. Besser. 



Plate DCIV. 



Reich. Ic. Fl. Germ, et Helv. Vol. XXI. Tab. 1923. 



BiUot, Fl. Gall, et Germ. Exsicc. No. 781. 



Peucedanum Silaus, Linn. Sm. Eug. Bot. No. 2142. » 



Cnidium Silaus, Spreng. Sm. Eug. Fl. Vol. II. p. 91. 



Stem angular. Radical leaves 2, 3, or 4 times pinnate ; the 

 ultimate leaflets or segments strapshaped, acute, mucronate. Invo- 

 lucre of 1 or 2 leaves. Cremocarp shortly oblong-ovoid, glabrous. 

 Styles reflexed, longer than the stylopods. 



