UMBELLIFEROUS TRIBE. 257 



A second British species, E. campestre (Field Eryngo), 

 grows at Stonehouse, Devonshire, and in two or three 

 other places, but it is very rare. It resembles the last 

 in habit, but is taller and more slender. 



4. CONIUM (Hemlock). 



1. C. maculdtum (Common Hemlock). A tall, much 

 branched and gracefully growing plant, with elegantly 

 cut foliage, and white flowers. Country people are in 

 the habit of calling by the name of Hemlock many 

 species of umbelliferous plants. The real Hemlock may, 

 however, be accurately distinguished by its slender 

 growth, perfectly smooth stem, which is spotted with 

 red ; by its finely divided leaves, which are also smooth, 

 and by the bracts at the base of the partial umbels, 

 which only go half way round. It usually grows from 

 2 to 4 feet high, but in sheltered situations it sometimes 

 attains more than double that height. Fl. June, July. 

 Eiennial. 



5. SMYRNIUM (Alexanders). 



l.'S. Olusdtrum (Common Alexanders). A tall and 

 stout plant, growing in waste ground, especially near 

 the sea ; well distinguished from any other plant of the 

 tribe by its broad, bright green, glossy leaves, which 

 grow in threes, and by its numerous large umbels of 

 greenish yellow flowers. The stem is smooth, 3 4 feet 

 high, furrowed and hollow. The seeds are nearly black 

 when ripe. The young shoots are sometimes boiled and 

 eaten. Fl. May, June. Biennial. 



6. CICUTA (Cowbane). 



1. O. virosa (Cowbane, Water-Hemlock). Ponds and 

 ditches ; rare. A poisonous, aquatic species ; distin- 

 guished by its very stout hollow stem, pinnate and 

 long-stalked lower leaves, twice ternate upper leaves, and 

 stalked umbels of white flowers. The name Water-Hem- 



