78 OBSERVATION'S on 



face is marked with circular depreflions. At 

 the beginning of winter, the. root for the fuc- 

 ceeding year is formed from the lower part 

 of the ftalk; and as the old root decays and 

 rots, long white filaments are obferved to 

 extend themfelves from the new root, which 

 {hoot into the foil, and feeure the fituation of 

 the plant. Before this proccft takes place, 

 the cells of the old root render it fpecifically 

 lighter than water : hence in winter, upbn a 

 fudden rife of the water, is is buoyed up to 

 the furface, and frequently carried by the 

 flream to a confiderable diftance from the 

 place where it grew. 



The ftalk is large, round, fiftular, of a 

 pale green colour, and divid^^ near thef top 

 into numerous branches. 



The leaves are of a pale green : they are 

 pinnated with fingle, double, and triple fo- 

 liola : each foliolum is fpear-fliaped, and 

 finely ferrated : the ferratures are white ac 

 the tips. 



The flowers are fmall and white : they 

 ftand upoh large umbels at the tops of the 



branches^ 



