170 



FIELD AND WOODLAND PLANTS 



with three small bracts on one side of the secondary umbels. The 

 fruit is short, swollen, and sUghtly flattened laterally ; and the 

 carpels, mthout vitta;, have each five thick, waved ridges. The 

 Hemlock flowers during June and July. 



Several of the common ural)plliferous plants are called the 

 Fool's Parsley by those who are unable to distinguish between 

 species, but this name is correctly applied only to ^thusa cynapium, 



a smooth, leafy plant, 

 w'lih. an unpleasant 

 odour and poisonous 

 ] ) r o p e r t i e s . The 

 j)lant grows from a 

 foot to eighteen 

 inches high, flowers 

 during July and 

 August, and is com- 

 mon in cultivated 

 ground as well as in 

 w astes and by way- 

 sides. It may be 

 i(>cognised at once 

 by the help of our 

 illustration ; but we 

 call sjjecial attention 

 to the three, long, 

 drooping bracts on 

 the outer side of each 

 secondary umbel. 



On roadside 

 banks, ))articu]arly 

 in chalky districts, we may often meet Avith the Wild Parsnip 

 (Pastinnca suiiva). This is an erect, downy plant, with a tap root; 

 and angular, hollow stem from two to three feet high. Its leaves 

 are pinnate, glossy above and downy beneath, with five or 

 seven ovate, sessile, cut and serrate leaflets, and sheathing petioles. 

 The umbels are terminal, without primary or secondary bracts ; 

 and the flowers are small, of a bright yellow colour, producing 

 flattened, winged fruits. The flowers bloom dming July and 

 August. 



Tlie Cow Parsnij) or Hogweed {Heradeum Sphondyliuw) is some- 

 what similar in general appearance, but is much stouter, and grows 



Tim I'ciw I'AKSMi' (in lln(i\vi';ici) 



