396 WATER-DROPWORT. 



old names, Filipendula, alluding to the fasciculated tuberous 

 roots, has suggested the common name Dropwort, — also applied 

 to the Spircea Filipendula, a very different plant, which has, 

 however, the same kind of root. Provincial names of this 

 plant are, Dead Tongue, Horse-bane, and Five fingered root. 



Six species of QEnanthe are enumerated as indigenous to 

 Britain, including the subject of this article. The common 

 Water-Dropwort, (CE. fistulosa,) is distinguished by its fascicu- 

 late fibrous roots intermixed with tubers, and throwing out 

 stolones from the neck ; remarkably fistular stems, (about two 

 feet in height,) the leaflets few and small at the extremity of 

 the hollow leaf-stalk ; umbels of few rays, generally destitute 

 of involucre, and white or pale reddish flowers. The other 

 species are less common, but all are poisonous, except the Pim- 

 pernel Water-Dropwort, (CE. Pimpinelloides,) found in salt 

 marshes, the tubers of which, in its cultivated state, are nu- 

 tritive, and according to De Candolle, are eaten at Angers by 

 the name of jouanettes. This plant maybe known from its 

 allies by the linear, entire, very long leaflets of the upper leaves, 

 the general involucre of several linear leaves, and the thickly 

 crowded umbellules with pale flesh-coloured flowers. The va- 

 rious species of CEnanthe, and especially the crocata, have some- 

 times been mistaken for the Water Parsnep, but this cannot 

 occur if any attention be paid to the above characters. 



Qualities. — The roots have not any very disagreeable smell or taste, 

 but contain a virulent, poisonous, milky juice, which becomes yellow im- 

 mediately it is exposed to the air, and which exudes, though less plenti- 

 fully, from all parts of the herb, when wounded. We have no analysis of 

 this substance, although it would be interesting to determine its relation- 

 ship to the gum-resins of the same natural family, — Galbanum, Ammonia- 

 cum, &c, and its affinity with Prussic acid, which it certainly resembles in 

 its poisonous effects. The root appears also to contain faecula, and a sac- 

 charine matter. 



Poisonous Properties. — The Hemlock Water-Dropwort is 

 justly considered the most poisonous vegetable which this island 



pearance and odour, has more resemblance to parsley, smallage, or celery, 

 than to hemlock, and the roots are more similar to parsneps ; and these 

 circumstances have been productive of unfortunate mistakes, as we shall 

 presently relate. Johnson (Ger. Em. p. 1060) states, that in his time the 

 roots were sold for those of Peony, and were daily vended in Cheapside by 

 the name of Water Lovage. 



