360 HOLOSCIADIUM. [CLASS v. ORDER n. 



common stalk long channeled, dilated at the hase, and sheathing, 

 bearing about three pairs of ovate-lanceolate leaves, and an odd one 

 at the end, having a slender mid rib, and numerous finely branched 

 veins, the margins blunt, and somewhat irregularly serrated, of a 

 shining green, paler beneath, the terminal leaf is sometimes united to 

 the two upper ones, and the margins cut, as well as serrated. Umbels 

 lateral, opposite the leaves, and either sessile or on a short stalk ; the 

 general of about six slender angular mostly unequal rays; impartial 

 of numerous short nearly equal pedicles. Flowers white. General 

 involucre of one segment, or mostly wanting; the partial of five or 

 six lanceolate segments, about the length of the umbel, pale green, 

 with three to six ribs, and a narrow membranous margin. Calyx 

 limb an obtuse margin. Petals ovate, somewhat incurved, with a 

 lanceolate point. Stamens on slender a\vl-shaped filaments. Anthers 

 roundish, of two cells. Styles very short. Disk large, fleshy, de- 

 pressed. Fruit with the sides compressed, ovate, the ridges prominent, 

 obtuse, pale, channels with slender vittce. Albumen rounded at the 

 back, plain in front. 



Habitat. Sides of lakes, rivers, and in drains ; frequent. 



Perennial; flowering in July and August. 



The juice of this plant has been recommended for the cure of some 

 diseases of the skin ; two table spoons full, mixed with a little milk. 

 It has not any unpleasant taste, and may be administered without 

 difficulty to children, and in some cases it has been found beneficial ; 

 but it is not now in much use, except amongst the country people, 

 and they not unfrequently eat it as a salad, mixed with the leaves of 

 the common water cress, for which it is indiscriminately gathered, a 

 mistake of no consequence to the consumer, if his palate does not 

 detect it. 



2. H. rc'pens, Koch. (Fig. 424.) creeping Marsh-wort. Stem 

 creeping and rooting at the joints ; leaves pinnate, roundish, ovate, 

 lobed, unequally toothed and serrated; umbels on short peduncles, 

 opposite the leaves. 



Hooker, British Flora, vol. i. p. 128. Lindley, Synopsis, p. 122. 

 Sium, repens, Linn. English Botany, t. 1431. English Flora, vol. 

 ii. p. 58. 



Root of long slender much branched-fibres. Stems several, round, 

 smooth, finely striated, creeping, putting out roots from the axis of the 

 branches, which are distant, alternate, and bearing but few leaves, 

 from six to ten inches long. Leaves on long channeled footstalks, 

 dilated and sheathing at the base, with thin membranous edges, 

 leaflets from three to five pairs, and an odd one at the end, roundish, 

 ovate, sometimes lobed, unequally toothed and serrated, the terminal 

 one mostly three lobed, finely veined. Umbels opposite the leaves, on 



