190 NATURAL HISTORY OF PLANTS. 



as Cumin. Laserpitiiim is less aromatic but generally more bitter. 

 The ** white Gentian root" is that of L. asjjerunij^ a plant from the 

 dry woods and hills of Europe, formerly used as a tonic, emmena- 

 gogue and diuretic. This root is said to be purgative. L. Siler,^ 

 from southern Europe, is a vulnerary plant, rich in essential oil, 

 extolled as a remedy for affections of the urinary organs, but now 

 disused. L, Archangelica,^ an aromatic species from the Carpathians 

 and Carniola, yields a kind of stimulant and pectoral Opopanax. Its 

 fruit serves as a condiment. L. gmmniferum,'^ from the Mediterranean 

 region, has been considered identical with Silphiiim cyrenaicum of the 

 ancients. The root of L. glahnim ^ is said to be purgative, like that 

 of L, asperum, of which L. pruthenicum ^ and gallicum "^ has also the 

 properties. Physospermum aquilegifolium ^ (fig. 140) has the qualities 

 of Angelica ; its stems are eaten in some parts of Eussia. The 

 Cow-Parsnips (Heradeum) have properties very similar to those of 

 the Angelicas, but are in general less aromatic. Among us H. 

 Sphondylium ^ (fig. 91-94) often bears the name of wild Angelica. 

 The young shoots are eaten in Siberia, where a sweet and succulent 

 substance is extracted from the interior of the stem. Parst is a 

 fermented beverage prepared by the poor in Poland from its leaves 

 and fruit. In rural districts its crushed roots are believed to soften 

 corns and callosities of the skin. H, sihiricwn ^® has the same uses. 

 In Sicily, H. cordatum ^^ is employed as Angelica among us. H, 

 lanatum,^^ an American species, has had a great reputation in the 



1 Crantz, Fl. Austr. iii. 54.— DC. Prodr. iv. Meth, 79. 



204, n. \.—L. latifolium Lamk. Diet. iii. 423.— ^ Koch, Vmb. 134.— DC. Prodr. iv. 246, n.l. 



RosENTH. op. cit. 551. — L. Libanotis Spreng. — — Li'ffusticum aquilegifolium W. Spec. i. 1425.— 



i. piibescens Lagasc. Oreoselimim lusitanicum T. — Sison sylvaticum 



2 L. Spec. 357. — Jacq. Fl. Austr. t. 145. — Brot. — Banaa aquilegifolia All. — Smyrnium 

 Hayn. Arzn. Getv. vii. t. 7. nudicaule Bieb. — PimjAueila Danaa Bieb. Casp. 



3 Jacq. Ic. Rar. i. t. 58 ; Collect, i. 214.— DC. 163. 



Prodr, n. 14, — Rosenth. op. cit. 551. — L. Chi' ^ L. Spec. 358. — Hayn. Arzn. Gevc. vii. t, 10. 



rortium Scop. Fl. Carniol. n. 324. —Sow. Engl. Bot. t. 939.— Caz. PL Med. Lidig. 



* Desf. fl AtL i. 254, 1. 12.— L. thapsueforme (edit. 3) 190.— Gren. et Godr. Fl. de Fr. i. 696. 

 Brot. — Thapsia gtimmifera Spreng. — Rosenth. op. cit. 548. — H. Bn. Bid. E/icgcl. 



* Crantz, FL Amtr. iii. 54:. —DC. Prodr. n. 2. Sc. Med. ix. 117. — H. proteiforme Cr. — Sphon- 

 — L. latifolium Jacq. FL Austr. t. 146. dylium Branca-ursina Hoffm. Zfmb. 131. 



^ L. Spec. 357. — Jacq. FL Austr. i. 153. — '^^ li. Mantiss. Zb4. — PL. flavesce>is Bahuq.FL 



DC. Prodr, n. 16. . Trans, i. 214.— DC. Prodr. iv. 191, n. 4. 



' C. Bauh. Pin. 156.— L. Spec. 357.— DC. ^^ Presl. BeL 135.— DC. Prodr. n. 13. 



Prodr. n. 8.— Gren. et Gode. FL de Fr. i. 681. '^ Michx. FL B<r.-Amer. i. 166.— DC. Prodr, 



— L. trifttrcatum Lamk. — L. cuneatum M(ENCH. n. 12. — Bigel. FL Best. 67. 



