parsley family. 



Field Parsnip. Pastinaca sativa. 



Found ill roadside thickets, along meadow Avails and fences, during 

 July and August. 



The large, widely branching stalk I'eaches the height of 4 or 5 feet ; 

 it is 4-, or occasionally 5-angled, very tough and woody-fibred, notice- 

 ably grooved, and its surface is coai-se ; dull green. 



The compound irregular leaf is large : the root-leaves are cut into 

 7 to 11 divisions, each part again cleft into 3 or 5 parts, — the upper 

 leaves are less compound ; the leaflets are long oval, broadest at the 

 base, the margins closely notched, the texture thin, but coarse, the 

 surface smooth, the underside of the upper leaves shining. The color 

 is a dull dark green. The root-leaves are on long stems, while the 

 upper leaves are on shorter stems which clasp the stalk with wing-like 

 membranes ; these are grooved, and large, their edges roll together, and 

 meet and lap about the stalk. The leaves are placed alternately, at 

 considerable intervals apart. 



The tiny flowers are yellow, they spread flat, to show the unde- 

 veloped seed-boxes, and are set on thread foot-stems in small, flat-topped, 

 round clusters ; these, on long, up-curving stems, form a large spread- 

 ing cluster, upon a stout stem ; they are terminal and from the angles 

 of the leaves ; several of these large clusters occur on a plant. 



" ' T will raise a blister, if you touch it when the dew 's on 't ! " 

 says the farmer's sou. It has a strongly acrid odor when broken, a thing 

 which is well-nigh impossible to accomplish. The seeds, shining and 

 very flat discs, add to the decorative qualities of this conspicuous plant. 



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