188 NATURAL HISTORY OF PLANTS. 



credited, that its very aromatic juice constituted gcdhanum ; it is a 

 highly stimulant plant. We have seen that Imperatoria, Anise and 

 Parsnip belong to the genus Peuceclanum, P. Pastinaca ' (fig. 83, 84) 

 is especially now a vegetable ; its edible root is used in Germany to 

 prepare a syrup and preserves. Its fruit is tonic, carminative; it was 

 formerly cited as an emmenagogue, as also an essence distilled from 

 it and still used in perfumery. Anise is P. graveolens ^ (fig. 85) a 

 powerful digestive and carminative; its odour is so strong that its 

 essence is used to mask the taste of certain disagreeable medicines. 

 Gladiators used to consider its fruit strengthening ; it is a condiment 

 in some countries. It might be a powerful stimulant. Imperatoria 

 (Peuceclanum Ostruthium ^) is much less active. Its root is considered 

 tonic ; it was used as a detergent for ulcers, and veterinary surgeons 

 sometimes gave it to small cattle as a preservative against certain 

 epizoa. Cumin ^ (fig. 70, 71) is nearly as aromatic as Anise. Its 

 perfume is however quite pecuhar. It is probably a plant of eastern 

 origin, but is scarcely ever found except as cultivated in the Mediter- 

 ranean region, Arabia, India, China, and even the United States. It 

 is a condiment used in making some kinds of bread, cakes, liquors,^ 

 &c. The essential oil extracted from the fruit is employed in per- 

 fumery ; it is said to be carminative and useful in removing glandular 

 obstructions.^ The Angelicas are also very aromatic Umbellifers. 



' Pastinaca iativa L. Spec. 376. — Hayn. Arzn. — Mer. et Del. Diet. Mat. Mid. ii. 516. — 



Gtw. vii. t. 16.— DC. Fl. Fr. iv. 341; Prodr. GriB. loc. cit. 227, fig. 625.— DC. Prodr. iv. 



iv. 188, n. 1.— GuiB. loc. cit. 206.— Gren. et 201, n. 2.— Lindl. Fl. Med. 51.— Caz. PI. Med. 



GoDR. Fl. de Fr. i. 693. — Aneihum Pastinaca Indig. (ed. 3) 358. — Fluck. et Hanb. Pharma' 



WiB. — Selinum Pastinaca Cvi. P. Seka kid ^vss. cogr. 295. — Foeniculum orientate Cuminum dictum 



is considered aphrodisiac in Egypt and Arabia. T. Innt. 312. 



'^ B. H. Gen. 919. — Anethum graveolens L. 5 j^ i^^s been said to form no part of that 



Spec. 377. — DC Prodr. iv. 186. — Guib. Ice. cit. called Kiimmel and which is made only from 



228, fig. 626. — Fluck. et Hanb. Pharmacogr. Caraway. It is probable that the German name 



291. — A. minus Gouan. — Pastinaca Anethum of the latter has caused this confusion; for 



Spkeng. Sch. Syst. vi. 587. Kiimmel generally has the perfume of Cumin. 



3 Koch, Umb. 95. — Nees, Off. Pfl. 12, t. 7- — The latter forms a constituent of Curries and 



Imperatoria Ostruthium L. Spec. 372. — Lamk. other seasonings. It is a common opinion in 



III. t. 199. — Hayn. Arzn. Gevc. vii. t. 15. — Sow. Dauphine that Cumin and other Umbelliferce 



Engl. Bot. t. 1380. — DC. Prodr. iv. 183. — Guib. cause a return of milk to goats ; whence the 



loc. cit. 213, fig. 617. — Eosenth. op. cit. blQ. — idea of giving it to nurses in whom this secre- 



Selinum Imperatoria Cr. Fl. Austr. 174. tion has become suspended. 



* Cuminum Cgminumlj. Spec. 265. — Schkuhr, * C. hispanicnm Mer. and minutum D'Urv. 



Handb.i. 80. — Wooi>Mv.Med. Bot.i. 190. — Nees, are cited as having the same qualities and are 



Off, Pfi. xiii. t. 7. — Hayn. Arzn. Gew. vii. t. 11. not perhaps distinct species. 



