ARALIACE^— IVY TRIBE 79 



3. Knotted Hedge Parsley {7\ noddsa). — Stem prostrate ; lower leaves 

 twice pinnate, upper ones pinnate ; leaflets deeply and uniformly pinnated ; 

 umbels nearly sessile, and lateral. Plant annual. This very common species, 

 in hedges and waste places on chalky soil, is distinguished from the others 

 by its prostrate mode of growth, and the small almost globose umbels of 

 reddish-white flowers, which, from May to July, are almost seated upon it. 

 It takes its specific name from the little knots or warts which are often on 

 the inner fruits of the umbel, the outer ones being covered with hooked 

 bristles. 



40. Prickly Samphire (Echindphom). 



Sea-side Prickly Samphire {E. spinosa). — Leaves pinnate ; leaflets 

 pinnatifid, with spinous, entire, awl-shaped segments. This singular prickly 

 plant is said to have formerly grown on some parts of the sandy shores of 

 Kent and Lancashire, and It has been recorded from Dorset, though without 

 confirmation. The perennial roots are said to taste like those of the parsnip, 

 with some flavour of salt, and are thought to possess a stimulating quality. 

 It is sometimes called Sea Parsnip. 



Order XXXIX. ARALIACE^— IVY TRIBE. 



Calyx 4 — 5 toothed, attached to the ovary; petals 4 — 16, rarely wanting; 

 stamens equalling the petals in number, or twice as many, inserted on the 

 ovary ; ovary with two or more cells ; styles as many as the cells ; fruit fleshy 

 or dry, of several cells, each containing one seed. This is nearly allied to the 

 umbelliferous tribe in the structure of the flower, but differing both in the 

 nature of the fruit and in properties, the order containing no plants that 

 are deleterious. The Ivy and the Adoxa are the only British genera, but the 

 famous Ginseng of the Chinese, the Panax, whose very name signifies "universal 

 remedy," belongs to this family. This plant is used in almost every medicine 

 taken by the Tartars and Chinese. Osbeek says that he never looked into 

 the apothecaries' shops but they were always selling Ginseng ; that both rich 

 and poor used it constantly, infusing half an ounce in their tea and soup 

 every morning, as a remedy for consumption and other diseases. The 

 physicians of China have written volumes on its medicinal powers, stating 

 that it gives immediate relief in extreme fatigue, either of body or mind. 

 Yet European physicians can detect in this root very little of those qualities 

 which would ensure its efficacy as a medicine. 



1. MOSCHATEL {Adoxa).— CdXyx 3-cleft, inserted above the base of the 

 ovary; corolla 4 or 5-cleft, inserted on the ovary; stamens 8 or 10, in pairs; 

 anthers 1-celled ; berry 4 or 5-celled. Name in Greek signifying without 

 glory, from its humble appearance. This genus is by some authors included 

 in the Caprifoliaceoi. 



2. Ivy (HMera). — Calyx of 5 teeth, inserted in the ovary; petals 5 — 10; 

 stamens 5 — 10; styles 5 — 10, often combined into one; berry 5-celled and 5- 

 seeded, crowned by the calyx. Name, the Latin name of the plant. 



