188 NATURAL HISTORY OF PLANTS. 



credited, that its very aromatic juice constituted galbanum ; it is a 

 highly stimulant plant. We have seen that Imperatoria, Anise and 

 Parsnip belong to the genus Peucedanum. P. Pastinaca ' (fig. 83, 84) 

 is especially now a vegetable ; its edible root is used in Germany to 

 prepare a syrup and preserves. Its fruit is tonic, carminative; it was 

 formerly cited as an emmenagogue, as also an essence distilled from 

 it and still used in perfumery. Anise is P. graveolens ^ (fig. 85) a 

 powerful digestive and carminative ; its odour is so strong that its 

 essence is used to mask the taste of certain disagreeable medicines. 

 Gladiators used to consider its fruit strengthening ; it is a condiment 

 in some countries. It might be a powerful stimulant. Imperatoria 

 {Peucedanum OstrutJdwm ^) is much less active. Its root is considered 

 tonic ; it was used as a detergent for ulcers, and veterinary- surgeons 

 sometimes gave it to small cattle as a preservative against certain 

 epizoa. Cumin * (fig. 70, 71) is nearly as aromatic as Anise. Its 

 perfume is however quite pecuhar. It is probably a plant of eastern 

 origin, but is scarcely ever found except as cultivated in the Mediter- 

 ranean region, Arabia, India, China, and even the United States. It 

 is a condiment used in making some kinds of bread, cakes, liquors,^ 

 &c. The essential oil extracted from the fruit is employed in per- 

 fumery ; it is said to be carminative and useful in removing glandular 

 obstructions.^ The Angelicas are also very aromatic Umbellifers. 



' Pastinaca iativa L. Spec. 376. — Hayn. Arzn. — Mek. et Del,. Diet. Mat. Mid. ii. 516. — 



Gtw. vii. t. 16.— DO. Fl. Fr. iv. 341; I'rodr. GriB. loc. clt-. 227, flg. 623.— DC. Prodr. iv. 



iv. 188, n. 1. — GciB. loe. eit. 206. — Grbn. et 201, n. 2.— Llndl. Fl. Med-. 31. — Oaz. PI. Mid. 



GoDR. Fl. de Fr. i. 693. — Anethum Pastinaca Indig. (ed. 3) 338. — Fluck. et Hanb. Pharma- 



WiB. — Selinum Pastinaca On. F. Sehakul Russ. cogr. 295. — Fasniculum orientate Cuminuin dictum 



is considered aphrodisiac in Egypt and Arabia. T. I/ist. 312. 



* B. H. Gen. 919. — Anethum graveolens L. ' It has been said to form no part of that 

 Spec. 377. — DO. Prodr. iv. 186. — Guib. loc. cit. called Kiiimnel and which is made only from 

 228, fig. 626. — Fluck, et Hanb. Fharmacogr. Caraway. It is probable that the German name 

 291. — A. minus Gouah. — PaUinaca, Anethum of the latter has caused this confusion; for 

 Spbeng. Sch. Syst. vi. 587. Kiiinmel generally has the perfume of Cumin. 



3 Koch, Umb. 95. — Nbes, Off. Pfl. 12, t. 7. — The latter forms a constituent of Curries and 



Imperatoria Ostruthimn L. Spec. 372. — Lamk. other seasonings. It is a common opinion in 



lU.i. 199. — Hayn. ^; SB. ffew. vii. t. 15.— Sow. Dauphine that Cumin and other UmbeUifertB 



Engl. Hot. t. 1380. — DO. Prodr. V!. 183. — Guib. cause a return of milk to goats; whence the 



loc. cit. 213, fig. 617. — RosENTH. op. cit. 546. — idea of giving it to nurses in whom this secre- 



Selinum Imperatoria In. Fl. Austr. 174. tion has become suspended. 



* Cuminum Ogiidnum L. Spec. 365.^Schkuhb, ^ C. hiapanicum Mer. and minutum D'TJuT. 

 Bandh.t. 80. — WooDW.Afe<i. .Boi. 1. 190. — Xees, are cited as having the same qualities and are 

 Uff'. Pfl. xiii. t. 7. — Hayn. Arzn. Gew. vii. t. 11. not perhaps distinct species. 



