AMONG THE WILD FLOWERS. 203 
species in ditches, S. angustifolium, has nar-_ 
rower and more deeply serrate leaves, and is 
common. Another plant, which nearly chokes 
up ditches and crowds brooks, is Helosczadium, 
Marshwort ; it is liable to be confused with the 
smaller Sium, but its sessile umbels, and pro- 
cumbent and straggling stems, distinguish it. 
The Water-Dropworts, Genus @:zanthe, are 
all lovers of water. Several of them are tall 
conspicuous Umbellifers, several feet high, with 
handsome umbels; Gx. crocata, the yellow- 
juiced species, is very poisonous, and an instance 
was recently recorded of some Greek sailors, 
who had eaten it in mistake for Celery in the 
Isle of Wight, losing their lives in consequence. 
Gn. Phellandrium, sometimes called Horse- 
bane, grows abundantly in deep running water ; 
the stems are much elongated and the foliage 
hair-like, but it sends up a somewhat handsome 
growth above the water, with much pinnatifid 
dark-green leaves and umbels of white flowers, 
seldom, however, perfecting any seed. This 
plant is distinguished from Gx. /luvzatzles, 
though very similar. Cw. fstulosa is a curious- 
looking specimen, about 18 inches high, with 
hollow stems and Zefzoles, leaf-stalks ; the pin- 
