116 FARM WEEDS OF CANADA 



The fruit when ripe, separates into 2 seed-like halves, com- 

 monly called seeds, each having 5 main or primary ribs running 

 lengthwise, which, in the different plants, are modified into 

 wings or rows of bristles or prickles, of great value in distinguish- 

 ing the species; sometimes there are 4 secondary or intermediate 

 ribs. The corky coat of the "seeds" bears several longitudinal 

 cavities filled with resinous or oily substances, which give them 

 their characteristic odours arid flavours. The true seed is in- 

 side the fruit and is tasteless. 



Nearly all the wild forms of the Parsley family are noxious 

 weeds from the fact that they harbour insect and fungus pests 

 that attack celery, parsnips and carrots. 



SPOTTED COWBANE (Cicuta maculata L.) 



Other English names: Cowbane, Water Hemlock, Mus- 

 quash Root, Beaver Poison, also wrongly called Water "Parsnip." 

 Other Latin name: Cicuta virosa var. maculata Coult & Rose. 



Native. Perennial. Stems stout, erect, hollow and jointed, 

 widely branching, 3 to 6 feet high, quite smooth, pale green, 

 dotted and streaked with purple. Root, a bundle of a few 

 fleshy, spindle-shaped tubers, like small parsnips. Leaves 

 compound, in 2 or 3 divisions, clasping by an expanded base, 

 the lower on long footstalks, the upper stalkless. The leaflets 

 lance-shaped deeply toothed. Flowers small, white, in com- 

 pound, umbrella-like clusters 1 to 4 inches across; the little 

 footstalks of the many flowered secondary clusters unequal, 

 from 1 to 2 inches long. 



The seed (Plate 74, fig. 53) 1/12 of an inch long, smooth, 

 ovate, compressed on the sides, separating into boat-shaped, 

 ribbed halves. When cut across, the seed shows 4 oil tubes 

 between the ribs and 2 on the flat side. 



Time of flowering: July - August ; seeds ripe August- 

 September. 



Propagation: Copiously by seeds and by offsets from tin- 

 crown of the root at the base of the old stem. 



