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HARE'S-EAR. 



Family: UMBELLIFERAE. 



Reproductive system: PENTANDRY, DlGYNY. 



Duhamel says that the shrubby hare's-ear, Buplevrum frulicosum, LINN., should be 

 planted in winter groves because it doesn't shed its leaves and it helps decorate them. Its 

 stems and smooth, profuse cylindrical branches form thick bushes five to six feet high. 

 The leaves are alternate, ovate-oblong, firm and smooth, with entire margins and are 

 slightly narrowed toward their bases. The flowers are grouped in umbels with involucres 

 and involucels. The calyx is small and entire. The corolla has five entire, semicircularly 

 curved equal-sized petals. The five stamens alternate with the petals. The adherent ovaiy 

 is crowned with two styles. The fruit is a streaked, ovoid, poly-achene, slightly convex on 

 both surfaces. It's formed from two indehiscent parts, each containing one seed. 



The leaves of almost all of the hare's-ears are simple; this makes them different 

 from those of other umbelliferous plants. To explain this peculiarity, it's been said that 

 they are merely foliaceous petioles whose blades failed to develop naturally. But the 

 same could be said for all leaves. I think this is just an example of a special and 

 established law of nature that gave them leaves that are different from those of other 

 umbelliferous plants. 



FLOWERS: July and August. 



RANGE: Provence and several other parts of southern France. 



USES. It can add to the variety of gardens in winter because it forms tufted bushes 

 and its seeds attract birds. The leaves have a very appealing scent of anise. 



