SEA-SIDE PLANTS. 65 



if seen in July or August by the deep golden 

 hue of its flowers, which colour is a rare ornament 

 in this tribe. It is of old repute as a seasoning 

 herb, and its almost sickly odour seems to have 

 been much esteemed in former days, as it is one 

 among the sweet flowers named by Shakspeare ; 

 and Milton alludes to it : 



" When from the boughs a savoury odour blown, 

 Grateful to appetite, more pleased my sense 

 Than smell of sweetest Fennel." 



The roots are roasted and eaten by the Hot- 

 tentots in the same way as anise ; and the seeds, 

 which are considered carminative, are often used as 

 medicine for infants. 



The wild Carrot is well known to all lovers of 

 wild flowers, with its cluster of white blossoms, 

 with a dark purplish red flower in the centre, and 

 its graceful leaves, once deemed a worthy ornament 

 for the head-dress of court ladies. There is a wild 

 species called the Sea-side Carrot (Daucus maritimus) 

 found on the coasts of Kent and Cornwall, as well 

 as some Scottish and Irish shores, very much like 

 our common carrot or bee's nest, but smaller, having, 

 broader and more succulent leaves, and wanting 

 the little purple blossom in the centre, which so 

 often helps those but little familiar with our wild 

 flowers to identify the Carrot among the many 

 white blossomed umbelliferous plants which re- 

 semble it. The roots of both species are similar, 

 and there are writers who think that they constitute 

 but one kind. These roots have the colour and 

 something of the strong odour of the garden carrot, 

 but are too stringy and small to be to any extent 

 serviceable as food, though the people of the 

 Hebrides, who well know how to turn to good 



