400 Prof. Curistison on the Poisonous Properties of Hemlock, 
duces a tall stem, jointed like that of fennel [ Anethum feniculum] ;* 
leaves like the ferula [ Ferula communis], but narrower, and of a 
heavy smell; branch-shoots and umbels at the summit ;_ a whitish 
flower ; a seed like that of anise, but whiter; a hollow root, not 
deep.”+ The description given by Piiny of the Cicuta, which is 
well made out to have been the Greek Kavaov, follows closely that 
of Dioscoripes. “Thestem * * * igs smooth, jointed like 
a reed, blackish, taller frequently than two cubits, very branchy 
at top. The leaves are more tender than those of coriander, of a 
heavy odour; the seed thicker than anise ; the root hollow.” + 
Now it appears to me impossible to refer the plant by these 
descriptions to the modern Coniwm maculatum. The description 
of the stem, leaves, summit, flower and seed, is so vague, that it 
will apply to twenty umbelliferous species as well as to our hem- 
lock. Puuvy’s term nigricans, applied to the stem, is but a feeble 
approach to the very remarkable character of the modern plant, 
the purple-spotted stem,—a character so obvious, that one can 
scarcely imagine an ancient herbalist omitting it in taking a de- 
scription from an actual specimen. Leaves narrower than those 
of ferula, more tender than those of coriander, if modern scholars 
and physicians are right in so translating the Greek »xgdz,§ and 
* « Magadgoy, Anethum feniculum; hodie aygiouaradgor, Icon. English Botany, t. 1208.” 
Sibth. Flor. Greece. Prod. i. 204. 
Tt Kavesoy xevrov avincs ryover adn as eeaeabeor, miryory [some read (esrcxvee |, Quarra Oz veeeOnxe een, 
orEvarregee De xcee Bagvocpc. oe aneay Be dmoQuctis nets cuicoic. avbos Smrorsvxoy. ome peo eePeess avr, 
Acunaregoy. eile no1rn nett g Babu. Dioscorides, iv. 79. Edit. J. A. Saraceni, 1598, p. 276. 
t Cicuta quoque venenum est * * * Caulis autem et viridis estur a plerisque et in 
patinis. Lzevis hic et geniculatus, ut calami, nigricans, altior seepe binis cubitis, in cacumi- 
nibus racemosus: folia coriandri teneriora, gravi odoratu: semen aneso crassius: radix 
concaya, nullius usus. Plinii Historia Naturalis, xxv. 95.; p. 421 in Edit. Brotier, 
Paris 1779. 
§ Sibthorpe found the Ferula communis of Linneus growing on Cyprus, where it is now 
called cyveg@nxa; and he conceives it to be the Nwegéxé of Dioscorides. [Flor Grace Pro- 
dromus, i. 190.] He refers for a representation of it to Dodonzus, Historia Stirpium, 
Antverpie 1676, p. 321. The rude drawing there given has certainly considerable resem- 
blance to hemlock in the leaves; but equally resembles many other umbelliferous plants. 
