(Enantke.] XXXV. UMBELLIFERJ5. 189 



with a few long branches. Leaves much more divided than in the last 

 species, bat very variable ; the upper ones usually with long, narrow 

 segments, those of the radical leaves much shorter and broader, and 

 sometimes very numerous. Umbels of 8 to 15 rather short rays ; the 

 general involucre of a few small, linear bracts, or sometimes wanting ; 

 the partial ones of several small, linear bracts. The fertile sessile or 

 shortly pedicellate flowers, and the distinctly pedicellate barren ones 

 are mixed in the same umbels ; the persistent styles of the ripe fruits 

 much shorter than in (E. fistulosa. 



In meadows, pastures, and marshes, throughout central and southern 

 Europe, extending northwards to the Baltic, and eastward to the 

 Caucasus. Abundant in many parts of England and Ireland, but does 

 not penetrate far into Scotland. Fl. summer and autumn. The great 

 variations in the tubers of the roots and in the form of the radical leayes 

 has induced its division into two, three or four species. These differ- 

 ences have, however, been shown to depend often on soil and situation ; 

 at the same time rather more constant differences have been pointed 

 out in the fruiting umbels, although even here intermediate states show 

 that the three following should be considered rather as marked varieties 

 than as true species. 



a. (E. pimpinelloides, Linn. Root-fibres usually tuberous. Leaf seg- 

 ments entire or acutely cut. Flowers assuming occasionally a faint 

 tinge of yellowish-green. Fruiting pedicels (although very short) en- 

 larged at the top so as to form a callosity round the base of the fruit, 

 which is itself fully as broad at the base as at the top. In dry or moist, 

 but not marshy meadows and pastures, rare, found only in the southern 

 counties of England. 



b. (E. Lachenalii, Gmel. Root-fibres usually cylindrical. Leaf-seg- 

 ments obtusely lobed. Flowers of a purer white ; the fruiting pedicels 

 less conspicuous, but little enlarged at the top; the fruits either 

 cylindrical or narrowed at the base. In wet marshes, and especially 

 in maritime salt-marshes, found as far north as Argyleshire, and in 

 Ireland. 



[c. (E. peucedanifolia, Poll. Root-fibres usually spindle-shaped, leaves 

 more pinnate, with cuneate 2- or 3-lobed segments. Fruiting pedicels 

 not enlarged at the top ; the fruit itself sub- cylindrical. Marshes and 

 ditches in the southern counties of England only.] 



3. <E. crocata, Linn. (fig. 425). Hemlock (E.A stout, branched 

 species, attaining 3 to 5 feet ; the root-fibres forming thick, elongated 

 tubers close to the stock ; the juice both of the stem and roots becom- 

 ing yellow when exposed to the air. Leaves twice or thrice pinnate ; 

 the segments much larger than in the other species, always above half 

 an inch long, broadly cuneate or rounded, and deeply cut into 3 or 5 

 lobes. Umbels on long, terminal peduncles, with 15 to 20 rays, 2 inches 

 long or more ; the bracts of the involucres small and linear, several in 

 the partial ones, few or none under the general umbel. The pedicellate 

 flowers at the circumference of the partial umbels are mostly but not 

 always barren, the central fertile ones almost sessile. Fruit somewhat 

 corky, the ribs broad and scarcely prominent. 



In wet ditches, and along rivers and streams in western Europe, 

 extending eastward into Italy, but not into central France. Common 

 in England, Ireland, and Scotland. Fl. summer. 



