64 UMBELLIFER^ 



pool. While pointing out to some friends this well-known acrid herb, she 

 rubbed her hands with its juices, in order to show its irritating effects, 

 having always produced this very readily in former experiments with the 

 plant. In this instance, however, the juice proved harmless, not even the 

 slightest redness was perceptible on the skin, nor could its application to the 

 skin of any of the party cause any irritation, though several specimens of 

 the ranunculus gathered from various pai-ts of the salt marsh were applied 

 repeatedly. 



The Hog's-fennel was well known to the herbalists in Queen Elizabeth's 

 time. They described it as growing plentifully in the low salt marshes near 

 Faversham, in Kent, and recommended both its external and internal use for 

 cramp, palsy, headache, and leprosy. They called the plant also Brimstone- 

 wort. It is in France termed Peucedane ; in Germany Ilaarstrang ; and the 

 Italians and Spaniards call it Peucedano. 



2. Marsh Hog's-fennel, or Milk Parsley (P. palils're). — Leaves 

 thrice pinnate ; leaflets pinnatifid, the segments narrow and pointed ; involu- 

 cres of many leaves ; stem furrowed. Plant perennial. This is a very rare 

 plant, found only in a few salt marshes in Kent and Essex. It is milky, and 

 every part abounds with a bitter juice of a most unpleasant odour, as thick 

 as cream, which soon dries into a brown resin. Its properties in our climate 

 are doubtful, and probably dangerous ; but the root is said to be used by the 

 Russians for giving a flavour to various articles of cookery, in the same way 

 that we should use ginger. This plant is about four or five feet in height, 

 and bears white floAvers in July and August. 



3. Broad-leaved Hog's-fennel, or Master-wort (P. oslrufhium). — 

 Leaves twice ternate ; leaflets broadly egg-shaped, cut, and serrated ; general 

 involucre none. Plant perennial. This plant was called Master-wort by the 

 old writers on plants, because of its supposed sovereign power over manifold 

 diseases, and could it eflect relief in half the cases for which they prescribed 

 it, it Avould indeed be a plant of power. Its properties, however, though thus 

 greatly overrated, were not merely imaginary. Its bitter biting root is still 

 prized by country people as a cure for the toothache, and probably not 

 Avithout reason, as, like many other pungent substances, it would afford at 

 least temporary relief. Some good writers on medical botany consider it 

 an excellent febrifuge, and Lango says that agues have been cured by its use 

 when Peruvian bark was ineffectual. " The root of Master-wort," says an 

 old herbalist, " is hotter than pepper, and is available in cold griefs and diseases. 

 Used as a decoction with wine it is good against all sorts of cold poison, and 

 against all wounds, especially those that come of envenomed weapons." 



This is not a truly wild plant, though often found in moist meadows in 

 Scotland; but it Avas formerly frequently planted in the garden, and was 

 boiled for the table. Its stem is one or two feet high, and its white flowers 

 expand in June. Its large sheaths are very conspicuous, and it has several 

 narrow leaves in the involucres of the partial umbels. 



26. Parsnip (Pastindca). 



Common Wild Parsnip (P. satlva). — Stem furrowed; leaves pin- 

 nate, downy beneath ; leaflets egg-shaped, cut and serrated, terminal one 



