UMBELLTFER^.. 



151 



Its medicinal qualities are storiiachir and antispasmodic; it is administered 

 in hysteria, hypochondria, and nervous disorders. The tissues of the human 

 system absorb it readily, and it aft'ects the kidneys with great activity. 

 ' The essential oil is distilled in (rermany, and is used in medicine on the 

 continent of Europe. 



Asafcttida is used in India as a condimr-nt for food ; it was also employed 

 by the Romans for the same purpose. 



The peculiar and inimitable Havor of the celebrated Worcestershire sauce is 

 supposed to be due to the presence of asafu^tida. 



PEUCEDANUM, L. Calyx 5-toothed, or obsolete ; petals broad- 

 lanceolate, point long and turned in. Fruit flat, oval, with a broad 

 margin. Carpels obscurely 5-ribbed, secondary ribs wanting; val- 

 leys furnished with single oil-vessels. Flowers yellow, involucre many 

 or few-leaved or absent ; involucels the same. Root conical, large, and 

 fleshy. Biennial. 



P. pastinaca, L. (Pastinaca sativa, L.) (Parsnip.) Stem grooved, tapering, 

 hollow, 2 to 4 feet high, branching. Root-leaves of the first year, orbicular, 

 cordate, and creuate. ' Stem or upper leaves of 

 the second year, compound ; leaflets 2 to 3 inches 

 long, cut, toothed, ovate, and obtuse, in 3 to 4 

 pairs, with a terminal one which is 3-lobed. 

 Flowers in June. Fruits in August to October. 



Note. — There are several varieties; a great 

 favorite is the Guernsey, which is an improved 

 form of the common, or P. pastinaca. It is said 

 that in the island of Guernsey, where deep culti- 

 vation is practiced, the root reaches the length of 

 four feet. The Student has come into favor, and 

 is said to excel all others in its sweet, mild, and 

 pleasant flavor. 



Geofjraphij. — The parsnip is found all over 

 Europe .south of 60 degrees of latitude, .southern 

 Greece, ^yeste^n Asia, Hindustan, and Siani. It 

 .sows its seeds easily, and escapes from gardens 

 and cultivated grounds, and therefore is found 

 growing outside of cultivation wherever it has 

 been cropped. 



Etipiiolofiij. — Pencedanum is derived from the 

 Greek invKt], a pine tree, and Zav6s, burnt, a burnt 

 pine tree, due to the peculiar odor of the parsnip. 

 Pastinaca is by some authors derived from the 

 Latin word jHistinum, a dibble, an in.strnment for 

 digging into the ground, in reference to the deep 

 piercing of the ground by the root of this plant. 



By others it is derived from the Latin word pastus, food, fodtler. pa.>*ture, on 

 account of the edible cliaracter of the root, and its use for feetling stock. 

 Sativa is Latin for "sown" or "planted." The common name, parsnip, is 

 sup])osed to be a corruption of the Latin word pastinnre, to dig up. hence 

 something dug up. 



Uistori/. — The home of the jiarsnip is Europe 



Pkuckdanum pastinaca 

 (.Farsuip). 



It was cultivated in Britain 



