50 tJMBllLLlFER^ 



Plant biennial. This is a rare plant in our meadov's and pastures ; nor is it 

 indigenous, though found in various parts of England and Scotland. The 

 flowers, which are white, grow in rather large umbels, on a stem one or two 

 feet high, in June. The aromatic carpels, known by the name of caraway- 

 seeds, are too often used in cookery, confectionery, liqueurs, and medicines, 

 to need any description, and the plant is often cultivated on their account. 

 The slightly pungent leaves are sometimes used as ingredients in salads, or, 

 like those of parsley, for seasoning dishes ; and the root, Avhich is spindle- 

 shaped, is sometimes eaten like the parsnip, but it partakes slightly of the 

 peculiar flavour of the carpels, M'hich would render it unpleasant to some 

 palates, when eaten with cooked meat. According to the old writers, this 

 root is *' pleasant and comfortable, and helpeth digestion /' one of them says 

 that the root, "eaten as men eat parsneps, strengthens the stomachs of 

 ancient people exceedingly, and they need not make a whole meal of them 

 neither." He adds that the Caraway should be planted in every garden. 

 The Caraway comfits were also considered as an excellent stomachic when 

 eaten fasting, and were at least a more agreeable one than many others 

 recommended by these "simplers." They were believed, too, to sharpen the 

 eyesight. The French call the Caraway plant, Carvi ; the Germans term it, 

 Kiimmel ; and the Italians, Carui. 



2. Tuberous Caraway (C hiilhocdstanum). — Leaves thrice pinnate, 

 with very slender leaflets ; general and partial involucres of many thread- 

 like leaves ; root tuberous and perennial. This is a rare plant in most parts 

 of this kingdom, and is found chiefly in chalky fields of Hertfordshire, 

 Cambridgeshire, Buckingham and Bedfordshire, though occurring on some 

 of these ni great abundance. The white fiowers appear in June and July. 



3. Whorled Caraway (C. verficilhUum). — Leaves mostly from the 

 root, pirniate, and cut into slender thread-like segments; umbels few, 

 terminal ; general and partial involucres very small. Root perennial. The 

 foliage of this plant is not truly whorled, but the segments of the leaflets 

 surround the leaf-stalk in a spreading direction, so as to look like a whorl. 

 The slender stem is about a foot high ; and the small white flowers appear 

 in July and August. It is a local plant, and occurs chiefly along the 

 western counties from Argyll southward. It is also found in the Channel 

 Islands, and about Killarney, in Ireland. 



12. Earth-nut {Bimiiim). 

 Common Earth-nut {B. flemdsum). — Leaves of the stem few, nearly 

 sessile, with linear segments ; general involucre of 1 — 3 leaves, partial more 

 numerous ; both involucres sometimes wanting ; styles erect. Plant perennial. 

 This is a pretty and common plant, bearing its terminal umbels of white 

 flowers in May and June. There is something elegant and graceful in its 

 form, and the slight stem is a foot or more high, having a few leaves cut 

 into slender segments. The tubers of the Earth-nut are sweet and esculent ; 

 they fatten pigs exceedingly, and being eagerly sought after and rooted up 

 by these animals, the plant is in many country places called Pig-nut. A large 

 amount of farinaceous and nutritive matter exists in these roots; and in 

 time of famine they have been useful in furnishing food for man. Though 



