538 



THE UNIVERSAL HERBAL; 



S C A 



3. Sceevola Sericea. Leaves obovate, villose, very soft, 

 toothed at top ; branches brown, villose, muricated with the 

 remains of fallen leaves. Native of Botany Island, New Cale- 

 donia. Three other species, natives of New Holland, have 



been discovered. 



Scallion. See Allium. 



Scammony. See Convolvulus. 



Scandix ; a genus of the class Pentandria, order Digynia. 

 GENERIC CHARACTER. Calix : umbel universal long 1 , 

 with few rays; partial more abundant. Involucre: universal 

 none; partial five-leaved, length of the umbellet. Perianth: 

 proper obsolete. Corolla : universal difform, radiate ; florets 

 of the disk abortive ; partial, petals five, inflex, emarginate ; 

 the inner ones smaller, outmost larger. Stamina : filamenta 

 five, capillary ; antherae roundish. Pistil : germen oblong, 

 inferior; styles two, awl-shaped, length of the least petal, 

 distant, permanent; stigmas in the radiant florets obtuse. 

 Pericarp : fruit very long, awl-shaped, bipartite. Seeds : 

 two, awl-shaped, convex and grooved on one side, flat on the 

 other. Observe. The florets of the disk are abortive in some 

 species; the involucres vary in the number of leaves. The 

 first species has angular seeds, and a caducous involucre. 

 The second species has the seeds filiform, hiding- the nucleus 

 at the base. The fourth species has ovate subulate striated 

 seeds, a green permanent inrolucre, and all the florets her- 

 maphrodite. Gsertner observes, that in the true Scandix the 

 nucleus is scarcely a fourth part of the length of the seed ; 

 but in the fourth species is three-fourths, and in the first the 

 full length of the seed. ESSENTIAL CHARACTER. Florets, 

 of the disk; most commonly male. Corolla : radiate. Petals: 

 emarginate. Fruit: awl-shaped. The species are, 



1. Scandix Odorata; Siueet Cicely, or Great Chervil. 

 Seeds grooved, angular. Root perennial, very thick, branch- 

 ed, of a sweet aromatic taste like Aniseed; stems three or four 

 feet high, hairy, and fistulous; leaves large, branching, some- 

 what like those of Fern, whence it has been called Swell Fern; 

 flowers white, with a sweet aromatic scent. This is one of 

 the old medicinal plants. The young leaves were put into 

 salads; and the roots were boiled, and eaten cold or in tarts, 

 and in a variety of sauces. The Germans still use it in soups ; 

 and, in the north of England, the seeds, which have the taste 

 and scent of Aniseed, are employed in polishing and perfum- 

 ing oak floors and furnitvire. Native of Germany, Switzer- 

 land, Austria, the south of France, and the north part of 

 Italy. It is found in England near houses, in Westmoreland, 

 Cumberland, and Lancashire ; growing wild near Leeds, in 

 Yorkshire ; on the banks of the Derwent, above Chatsworth ; 

 near Shelsleywalsh, Worcestershire ; at White Ladies, near 

 Boscobel, Shropshire; at Tixall, near Stafford; in Rose 

 Lane, Oxfordshire; in Wales, at Llangollen monastery, Den- 

 bighshire ; and in the waste places and orchards, but always 

 near houses, in the lowlands of Scotland* Tiiis, with the 

 second, fifth, sixth, tenth, and eleventh species, increases fast 

 by seed, which, if permitted to scatter, will produce plenty 

 of plants ; these may be left in their place, or transplanted to 

 any part of the garden, for they will grow in any soil or 

 situation, and require no care. 



2. Scandix Pecten Veneris ; Needle Chervil, Shepherd's 

 Needle, or Venus 's Comb. Seeds with very long, and some- 

 what rugged beaks; leaflets linear, multifid. Root annual, 

 small; stem from six inches to a foot in height, branched; 

 flowers pure white. It may be easily known by its fine cut 

 leaves, its singular large cloven involucres, and particularly 

 by the beaks to the seeds, which are two inches in length, 

 and so much resemble those of Crane's Bill, that it might be 

 mistaken at first sight for one of that genus. These beaks 



have given rise to the names Vemts's Comb and Shepherd's 

 Needle; in Yorkshire it is called Crake Needle. It is of the 

 same genus with Chervil, and, having something of the same 

 smell and taste, might perhaps be put to the same use: the 

 Greeks appear to use it as an ordinary pot-herb. This 

 species is a very common weed among corn ; and though a 

 small annual plant, it sometimes multiplies in such abundance, 

 as to be injurious to the crop. It flowers in June, and the 

 seeds ripen before harvest. Native of Europe. 



3. Scandix Chilensis; Chili Chervil. Seeds with very long 

 beaks; leaflets entire, ovate-lanceolate. Native of Chili. 



4. Scandix Cerefolium ; Garden Chervil. Seeds shining 1 , 

 ovate, subulate; umbels sessile, lateral. Root annual; leaves 

 of an exceedingly delicate texture, smooth, shining, tripinnate. 

 They are frequently used in soup, especially by the Dutch ; 

 but whoever uses it, should be cautious not to mistake the 

 next species (the leaves of which are suspected of being poi- 

 sonous) for this plant. It is grateful to the palate anil sto- 

 mach, slightly aromatic, and gently aperient and diuretic. 

 Geoffrey remarks, that he found it of remarkable service in 

 the dropsy ; that it acts mildly and without irritation ; and 

 abates inflammatory symptoms. He observes, that it is to be 

 used with caution, where the patient is troubled with a cough 

 or a spitting of blood, as being liable to aggravate those com- 

 plaints, in consequence of a nitrous salt, by virtue of which he 

 supposes this juice to act. The extract is manifestly saline, 

 and more pungent than nitre, but does not visibly deflagrate 

 in the fire. Of the aromatic flavour, little or nothing accom- 

 panies the juice; though water or spirit extracts the greater 

 part of it by infusion, The aromatic part is very volatile; in 

 distillation with water, there separates a small portion of 

 essential oil, resembling in taste that of Fennel seeds. Hal- 

 ler, who treats copiously on the medicinal qualities of this 

 plant, has no opinion of it in the dropsy; but thinks it may 

 be of service in obstructions of the bowels, in external haemor- 

 rhoids, and a stoppage of urine. It was much more cultivated 

 in England formerly than at present: it is, we know not why, 

 seldom used by regular practitioners, and has almost disap- 

 peared from our kitchens and tables. It is found flowering in 

 May, in many parts of Europe. Native of cultivated ground 

 in the south of Europe. To propagate it, sow the seeds in 

 autumn, soon after they are cast, either in drills or broad-cast: 

 sowing in the spring will not answer, for the plants will rarely 

 come up, and then are sure to wither and decay upon the ap- 

 proach of warm weather; while the plants which rise in the 

 autumn continue green all the winter, and flower in the April 

 following, soon after which they ripen their seeds and decay. 

 This species will continue itself by its scattered seeds. 



5. Scandix Anthriscus; Rough or Hemlock Chervil. 

 Seeds ovate, hispid ; corollas uniform ; stem even. Root 

 annual ; leaves tripinnate, soft, and tender, hairy, especially 

 underneath, and along the midrib of a yellowish green colour; 

 leaflets ovate, lobed. This dangerous plant may be easily 

 distinguished from the rest of the genus, by its want of that 

 pleasant smell, which all the others afford when rubbed ; and 

 by its having, instead, a strong hireine smell like Hemlock. 

 The danger arises from its habit approaching nearly to that 

 of the true Chervil : but not only is the smell different, but 

 the seeds of the true are black, smooth, and glossy, longer, 

 and narrower, with two blunt ridges ; while those of this 

 suspected plant are dark brown, ovate or lanceolate, with 

 stiff hairs or prickles, curved upwards on the convex side, 

 and with a very short smooth beak. Mr. Miller remarks, 

 that there have been some instances of the ill effects of this 

 plant when taken inwardly; but no other author appears tc 

 have confirmed this account, which is nevertheless entitled '" 



