CLASS V. ORDER II.] CONIUM. 415 



transverse section, roundish at the back, the sides rolled inwards, and 

 touching each other on their edges, and forming an almost crescent- 

 shaped cavity in the middle of the albumen. Sometimes there are 

 rudiments of two seeds, but only one of them comes to perfection. 



Habitat. Sandy sea shores. Found formerly on the coast of Lan- 

 cashire and Kent, but now apparently extinct. 



Perennial; flowering in July and August. 



This plant, there is reason to fear, is now become extinct in our 

 country. We, however, still retain it, as it may, like some other plants, 

 after having been lost for some years, again make its appearance ; and 

 as there cannot be much fear of its ever having been mistaken for 

 any other plant, we think that it may again be found. It is frequent 

 on the shores of the Mediterranean sea, and from specimens grown on 

 the Italian coast our figure has been drawn and described. The root, as 

 well as the whole plant, has a strong smell, similar to that of Parsnips. 

 It is a singularly rigid plant in appearance, and very remarkable in 

 structure, especially the parts of the flower and seed. 



GENUS LXXXVII. CONI'UM. LINN. Hemlock. 



GEN. CHAR. Calyx an obsolete margin. Petals obcordate, with a 

 very small inflexed point. Fruit laterally compressed, ovate. 

 Carpels with five equal prominent waved or crenated ridges, the 

 lateral ones forming the margin. Channels with numerous streaks, 

 but no vittce. Albumen with the sides rolled inwards. General 

 involucre of few segments, the partial of three on one side. Name 

 Ktamov, from xwvoj, a cone, or top ; so called because the juice of 

 the plant produces a giddy or whirling sensation, as that caused 

 by turning round, as does a top. 



1. C. macula'tum, Linn. (Fig. 475.) common Hemlock. Stem 

 smooth, spotted, much branched ; partial involucre with the short 

 segments on the outer side of the umbel. 



English Botany, t. 1191. English Flora, vol. ii. p. 65. Hooker, 

 British Flora, vol. i. p. 139. Lindley, Synopsis, p. J26. 



Root tapering, fleshy, mostly branched and fibrous, Stem erect, 

 from three to six feet high, round, hollow, smooth, glaucous green, 

 spotted with purple, striated, sometimes furrowed, much branched 

 upwards, and leafy. Leaves large, thrice pinnate, on a round striated 

 hollow spotted footstalk, with a thin dilated striated sheathing base, 

 and a pale thin membranous margin, elongated at the upper angles 

 into acute appendages, leaflets ovate-lanceolate, cut in a pinnatitid 

 manner, and serrated, a deep shining green above, pale beneath, quite 

 smooth. Umbels lateral and terminal, numerous, the general of nit- 



