WATEE PABSNIP WATEE HEMLOCK. 137 



locality, also in Wiltshire ; it is a smaller plant, more slender 

 in its habit the bracts being large and numerous. 



Marazion Marsh furnished Fanny with the Least Water 

 Parsnip (S. inundatum). It is a very small slight plant, with 

 pinnate leaves and minute umbels, containing about five flowers 

 and placed on the stem in pairs rising out of the water. The 

 leaves under water are thread- shaped. 



The Whorled species with its Fennel-like leaves, inhabits salt 

 marshes in the north and west. I have no specimen of it. 



The Hedge Honewort and Corn Honewort (Sison amomum 

 and segetum), I have also sought in vain. The former has an 

 umbel of about four rays or minute branches ; in the latter the 

 umbels droop, and the stem is Rush-like. 



The Cowbane or Water Hemlock (Ciciita virosa), grows near 

 Ely, and I have seen a pressed specimen from thence. The 

 stem is furrowed, the leaves pinnate, each leaflet being cut in 

 three lance-shaped divisions, and serrated at the edge. The 

 umbel is large, and the flowers white. It contains a virulent 

 poison, and is very dangerous for cows. 



Here we have the true Hemlock (Conium maculatum). It is 

 not a common plant. I gathered it near Little Ouseburn, a 

 village in the neighbourhood of York. It is handsome, with 

 bright green, repeatedly-pinnate leaves, a white umbel, and a 

 beautifully shiny stalk spotted with purple. It contains a 

 strong poison, which is, however, capable of being converted 

 into a powerful medicine. The seed is the most poisonous 

 part; dangerous mistakes have arisen from the similarity of 

 this seed to that of the Anise, and articles explaining the 

 points of distinction are found in medical journals. We look 

 with interest at this plant as furnishing the poison of that 

 greatest of non-Christian philosophers, Socrates. 



The common Angelica (Angelica sylvestris), grows abun- 

 dantly in moist woods all over the kingdom ; it is a stately plant, 

 attaining a height of from five to eight feet. The sheathing 

 leaf-stalks are remarkably large, and the umbels of flowers 



