186 THE UMBELLATE FAMILY. [Pimptnetta, 



The shape of the fruit is nearly that of Apium, but the ribs are much, 

 less prominent, and the vittas more numerous. 



Segments of the lower leaves either nearly orbicular or 'very much 



divided 1. P. Saxifraga. 



Segments of most of the leaves ovate or lanceolate ; the teeth or 



lobes very pointed Z. P. magna. 



The Aniseed is the fruit of a species of this genus (P. Anisum). 



1. P. Saxifraga, Linn. (fig. 417). Burnet Saxifrage. Stock short 

 and thick, but not tuberous. Stems erect, 1 to 2 feet high, not much 

 branched, glabrous or downy at the top. Leaves very variable, the 

 radical ones usually pinnate, with 7 to 9 pairs of broadly ovate or 

 orbicular segments, 6 to 9 lines long, toothed or lobed ; the upper leaves 

 small, their segments divided into a few narrow, or even linear lobes ; 

 sometimes all, even the radical leaves, have their segments once or 

 twice pinnate, with narrow lobes ; sometimes the few stem-leaves are, 

 like the radical, simply pinnate, but much smaller, or reduced to simple 

 bracts. Umbels terminal, with from 10 to 15 rather slender rays ; the 

 flowers white. 



In pastures, on banks, roadsides, &c., throughout Europe and Russian 

 Asia, except the extreme north. Abundant in Britain. Fl. all summer. 



2. P. magna, Linn. (fig. 418). Greater P. Very near P. Saxifraga, 

 and perhaps a mere variety. It is much larger in all its parts ; the 

 stems often more than 2 feet high, and stouter ; the segments of the 

 leaves usually undivided, ovate or lanceolate, often 1 to 1 inches long, 

 with more pointed teeth, or, if divided, the lobes much longer and more 

 pointed than in P. Saxifraga, the flowers frequently pink, in large 

 umbels, and the fruit also larger. 



The general range is nearly the same as that of P. Saxifraga, but it 

 is more frequent in mountainous districts and shady situations, or rich 

 soils. In Britain, chiefly in southern and eastern England and southern 

 Ireland, but extending into eastern Scotland. Fl. summer, rather late. 

 A further study of intermediate forms, which are frequent in the south 

 of Europe, may induce its reunion "with P. Saxifraga as a marked 

 variety. 



XIII. BUPLEURUM. BUPLEVER. 



Leaves quite entire. Umbels compound, or sometimes small and irre- 

 gular, with partial and usually also general involucres. Petals broad, 

 entire, yellow. Fruit ovoid or oblong, somewhat laterally compressed, 

 without visible calycine teeth. Carpels with 5 more or less prominent 

 ribs, with or without vittas. 



A considerable genus, widely diffused over the temperate regions of 

 the Old World, and one of the few natural ones among Umbelliferce, but 

 distinguished more by its entire leaves, with parallel veins and yellow 

 dowers, than by the carpological characters, which in different species 

 correspond to different short-fruited genera. 



Leaves broad and perfoliate. Bracts of the partial involucres 



broadly ovate . 1. B. rotundi folium. 



Leaves narrow and grasslike. 



Annuals. Rays of the umbel few, very short or incon- 

 spicuous. 

 Umbels of 3 or 4 short rays. Bracts lanceolate, longer 



than the flowers . . 2. B. aristatum. 



