parslei? family. 



Cow Parsnip. Heracleum lanatum. 



Found in moist ricli grounds, often on the edge of shade, in blossom 

 in June. 



The stalk grows very tall, sometimes 7 or 8 feet high ; it is large, 

 round, and grooved — though not deeply so ; it is hollow, with a strong 

 parsnip smell ; and grass-green in color. 



The leaf is compound, in three divisions, and large, the lower leaves 

 being sometimes a foot or more in length ; each leaflet is more or less 

 deeply lobed, and sharply notched on the edge, and set on a short foot- 

 stem ; the ribs are large, the upper surface almost smooth, while the 

 lower surface is soft and woolly ; coarse in texture, and of a strong dark 

 green color. The main foot-stem of the leaf, widens into a leafy mem- 

 brane that partly clasps the stalk. The few large leaves are alternate. 



The flower is small, and 5-petalled, the petals heart-shaped, or deeply 

 notched ; the outer flowers are larger than the inner ones, and their 

 petals are quite unequal in size. In color white. They grow in wide 

 spreading, flat-topped clusters, sometimes 10 or 12 inches across. 



On close approach the Cow Parsnip appears coarse in general make- 

 up ; seen from a distance however it looks a plant of splendid swing 

 and unbounded vigor, a veritable Hercules of the fields ! 



