274 UMBELLIFER^. Thasphtm. 



to elliptical ; the dorsal ribs conspicuously winged : usually one of the carpels has a single 

 broad and two narrower wings ; the other two broad and one narrower. 



Borders of woods, and rocky banks of rivers. Valley of the Chemung {Dr. Knieskern). 

 Near the Falls of Niagara, on the Canada side (Dr. Gray). Fl. June. Fr. August. 



11. ^THUSA. Linn. ; Endl. gen. 4:424:. FOOL'S PARSLEY. 



[ Named from the Greek, aitho, to bum ; on account of its acrid quality.] 



Calyx-teeth obsolete. Petals obovate, emarginate, with an inflexed point. Fruit ovoid-globose. 

 Carpels with 5 acutely carinated ribs ; the lateral ones marginal, and a little broader. In- 

 tervals deeply acute-angled, with single vittae. Commissure with 2 vittae. Seed teretely 

 convex on the back, rather flat on the face. Carpophore 2-parted. — Annual, erect, poisonous 

 herbs. Leaves many-cleft. Involucre none, or one-leaved. Involucels 1 - 5-leaved, 

 lateral, spreading or pendulous. Flowers white. 



1. iExHUSA Cynapium, Linn. Co^nmon Fool's Parsley. 



Segments of the leaves ovate-lanceolate, with lanceolate lobes ; involucre none ; involucels 

 3-leaved, mostly longer than the partial umbels, pendulous ; vittae of the commissure distinct 

 at the base (DC). — Linn. sp. 1. p. 256 ; Engl. hot. 1192 ; Bigel. fl. Bost. p. 113 ; DC. 

 prodr. 4. p. 141 ; Beck, hot. p. 145 ; Torr. 4- Gr. fl. N. Am. 1. p. 618. 



Stem 1-2 feet high, hollow, not spotted. Leaves bi-triternately compound ; the ultimate 

 lobes or segments linear-lanceolate. Umbels terminal, and opposite the leaves : rays very 

 unequal, the longest seldom an inch in length. Leaflets of the involucels linear, all on one 

 side. Fruit nearly as broad as long, about 2 lines in diameter ; the ribs very prominent and 

 keeled. Vittae very narrow. 



Waste places and road-sides ; naturalized in some places. A native of Europe. Fl. July 

 - August. Fr. September. The whole plant emits a nauseous odor. It is considered 

 poisonous, but in a less degree than Conium maculatum. From the latter it is easily dis- 

 tinguished by its spotless stem, long pendulous one-sided involucels, and straight ridges of the 

 fruit. 



