PLANTS. ' 281 



Cultivated for its aromatic properties, and fruit so well 

 known in domestic economy. $ , 



Bibernell (Pimpinella saxifraga). Black, terete 

 (columnar), and fluted. Leaves multified (many-cleft). 

 Abounds in Europe ; grows on dry hills, and among 

 rocks in borders of shady woods. The odor of the root 

 is pungent, aromatic, and disagreeable, but tastes sweet 

 and spicy. Considered useful in relieving dyspepsia; 

 the leaves are used as salad. 1C. 



The Anise (Pimpinella anisum). Stem resembles 

 that of the above described. The radical leaves round- 

 ish, heart-shaped; the others three-cleft. Found wild 

 in Egypt and the Isle of Chios ; cultivated in Europe 

 and America. Flower umbels shallow, nearly flat. The 

 seed a line and a half in length, has a sweet and highly 

 aromatic taste, and contains a volatile oil which is useful 

 in dyspepsia, and forms a prominent ingredient in all 

 carminatives. Also used in domestic economy. The oil 

 is said to be poisonous to pigeons. O . 

 C*briafto?er(Coriandrum sativum) has a columnar, smooth, 

 naked ' stem, branching only towards the top ; leaves 

 feathery and much dissected; flowers, umbels, flat, sus- 

 tained on long pedicels. Grows in Southern Europe as 

 a weed; nevertheless in the north and United States it 

 is often cultivated. The whole plant has the odor 

 of the Cimex or bedbug, whence the name given it 

 by the Greeks Koris, a bug. Nevertheless the ripe 

 seeds have a pleasant, aromatic taste, and are used as 

 spice and a nucleus for sugar plums. Notwithstanding 

 the offensive odor of the fresh herb, Professor De Can- 

 dolles states that the Tartars prepare a favorite pottage 

 from it. Considered to possess considerable medical 

 properties as a carminative. O. 



