242. THE UMBELLATE FAMILY. 



species {S. repens, Eng. Bot. t. 1431), but both forms may be occasionally 

 found proceeding from the same stock. 



2. Iiesser Helosciad. Helosciadium inundatum, Xoch. 

 (Sison, Eng. Bot. t. 227.) 



A glabrous plant, creeping and rooting at the base like the last, but 

 much smaller, and more slender, and often half immersed in water, when 

 the submerged leaves are divided into capillary segments. Flowering stems 

 6 to 8 inches high, with small temate or pinnate leaves ; the segments 

 3-toothed or 3-lobed, each lobe often again 3-toothed. Umbels on short 

 peduncles opposite the leaves, as in the procttmbent M., but generally of 

 2 or 3 rays only, without involucre ; the partial umbels of 5 or 6 small 

 flowers, with 2 or 3 minute bracts. 



In swamps, shallow ponds and pools, or half-dried mud, chiefly in 

 western and central Eiu-ope, extending northwards into southern Sweden, 

 eastwards almost to the Asiatic fi'ontier, but rare in the south. Generally 

 dispersed over Britain, but easUy overlooked, and consequently supposed 

 to be more rare than is the fact. Fl. sum'nier. 



VIII. SISON. SISON. 



Leaves dissected. Umbels compound, with general and partial invo- 

 lucres. Petals broad, deeply notched, with an inflected point. Fruit of 

 Apium, except tliat the axis or carpophore is deeply cleft as in Parslei/, 

 and the vittas are shghtly thickened at the lower end. 



A single species, formerly considered as a congener of the Corn Parslei/. 



1. Hedge Sison. Sison Amomum, Linn. 

 (Eng. Bot. t. 945. Bastard Stone Parslei/.) 



An erect, glabrous annual or biennial, 2 feet high or rather more, with 

 numerous stiif, slender branches in the upper part. Leaves piimate ; the 

 segments of the lower ones ovate or oblong, often an inch long, toothed or 

 lobed, or the lower pair again pinnate ; the upper leaves much smaller, 

 with small, narrow segments, deeply 3-lobed, toothed or entire. Umbels 

 on slender peduncles of 3 to 5 rays, with but few wliite flowers on short 

 pedicels. Involucres of very few, linear bracts, those of the partial umbels 

 smaller, and often turned to one side. Fruit scarcely above a hne long, 

 rather broader than long. 



In hedges and tlaickets, chiefly in western Europe, not reaching the 

 Hhine in central Europe, but spreads here and there much further eastward 

 in the Mediterranean region. In Britain, frequent in southern England ; 

 more rare in the north, scarcely penetrating into Scotland, and not recorded 

 from Ireland. Fl. swmmer. 



IX. PARSLEY. PETEOSELINUM. 



Leaves dissected. Umbels compound, with general and partial invo- 

 lucres of very few bracts. Petals entire. Fruit of Apium, except that the 

 axis of the carpophore sjpUts to the base when ripe. 



Two European species, not much like each other, nor yet like the few 

 exotic ones artificially associated with them. 



Tall biennial. Flowers yellow 1. Common F. 



Slender annual. Flowers white 2. Corn P. 



