32 PLANTS GROWING IN WATER. 



recognised as the deadly water hemlock. Its appearance also 

 is such that it is frequently mistaken for the wild carrot and 

 sweet cicely. The stem, which is streaked with purple, not spot- 

 ted, as its name, spotted cowbane, would suggest, should be re- 

 membered as a means of identification. 



Of all the members of the parsley family it is the most poison- 

 ous. An aromatic, oily fluid is found in the root and in smaller 

 quantities in the leaves, stems and seeds. Its chemical nature 

 is not exactly known. Every year a large number of human 

 victims falls a prey to this plant, for which there is no known 

 antidote. Growing, as it does, in shallow water, its roots are 

 washed and exposed to view, when it is gathered in error as 

 horse-radish, artichokes, parsnips and other edible roots. 



WATER=PARSNIP. 



Slum cicutcefblunn. 



FAMILY COLOUR ODOUR RANGE TIME OF BLOOM 



Parsley. White. Scentless. Mostly north.^ west and south. All summer. 



Flowers : small ; numerous ; growing in umbels. Leaves : alternate ; pinnate ; 

 with many pairs of linear, or lanceolate leaflets that are sharply serrate. Roots: 

 dwindled, acrid and poisonous. 



This wild plant is commonly found in shallow water. To 

 know it is to avoid it, as it is also a very poisonous member of 

 the family. 



PICKEREL=WEED. 



Pontederia cor data. 



FAMILY COLOUR ODOUR RANGE TIME OF BLOOM 



Pickerel-weed. Purplish blue. Unpleasant. General. All summer. 



Flowers : irregular ; growing in a dense spike. Perianth : labiate ; the three 

 upper lobes marked with a greenish-yellow spot ; the three lower ones being more 

 spreading. Stamens : six ; the three lower ones in the throat, the three upper 

 ones shorter and imperfect. Pistil : one.. Z<?a/; one only ; borne at the top of 

 the stem; lanceolate to arrow-shape. Stem: rising one to two feet above the 

 water ; stout ; erect. 



The pickerel-weed, we may fancy, is the reckless, dashing 

 Kate of the underground garden. Evidently she has run away 



