190 NATURAL SISTOBT OF PLANTS. 



as Cumin. Laserpitium is less aromatic but generally more bitter. 

 The "white Gentian root" is that oi L. asperum,^ a plant from the 

 dry woods and hills of Europe, formerly used as a tonic, emmena-- 

 gogue and diuretic. This root is said to be purgative. L. Siler,^ 

 from southern Europe, is a vulnerary plant, rich in essential oil, 

 extolled as a remedy for affections of the urinary organs, but now 

 disused. L. Archangelica,^ an aromatic species from the Carpathians 

 and Carniola, yields a kind of stimulant and pectoral Opopanax. Its 

 fruit serves as a condiment. L. gummiferum* from the Mediterranean 

 region, has been considered identical with Silphium cyreriaicum of the 

 ancients. The root of L. glabrum ^ is said to be purgative, like that 

 of L. asperum, of which L. pruthenicum * and gallicum ' has also the 

 properties. Physospermum aquilegifoUum ^ (fig. 140) has the qualities 

 of Angelica ; its stems are eaten in some parts of Eussia. The 

 Cow-Parsnips (Heracleum) have properties very similar to those of 

 the AngeUcas, but are in general less aromatic. Among us H. 

 Sphondylium * (fig. 91-94) often bears the name of wild Angelica. 

 The -young shoots are eaten in Siberia, where a sweet and succulent 

 substance is extracted from the interior of the stem. Parst is a 

 fermented beverage prepared by the poor in Poland from its leaves 

 and fruit. In rural districts its crushed roots are believed to soften 

 corns and callosities of the skin. H. sibiricum '° has the same uses. 

 In Sicily, H. cordatum " is employed as Angelica among us. H. 

 lanatum,^^ an American species, has had a great reputation in the 



1 Ckantz, Fl. Austr. iii. 54.— DC. Frodr. iv. Met!:. 79. 

 204, n. 1. — L. latifolium Lamk. Diet. iii. 423. — « Koch, Umb. 134.— DO. Piodr. iv. 246, n.l. 



RosENTH. op. cit. 551. — L. libanotis Spbeng. — — Ligustieum aquilegifoUum W, Spec. i. 1425. — 



L. pubesoens Lagasc. Oreoselimim lusitanicum T. — Sison sylvatieiim 



* L. Spec. 357. — Jacq. Fl. Austr. t. 145. — Brot. — Danaa aquilegifolia All. — Smyrnitmi 

 Hatn. Arzn. Gew. vii. t. 7. nudicaiile Bieb. — Fimpinella Danaa Bleb. Casp. 



3 jAca. Ic. Ear. i. t. 68 ; Collect, i. 214.— DC. 163. 

 Frodr. n. 14. — Eosenth. op. cit. 551. — i. G/ii- 9 L. Spec. 358.— Hayn. Jrzn. Gem. vii. t. 10. 



roinum Scop. Fl. Carniol. n. 324. — Sow. Fngl. Bot. t. 939. — Caz. PI. Mid. Indig. 



* Desf. Fl. Atl. i. 254, t. 72.— i. thapsimforme (edit. 3) 190. — Gken. et Godb. Fl. de Fr. i. 696. 

 Brot. — Thapsia gummifera Speeng. — Eosenth. op. cit. 548. — H. Bn. Diet. Eiicgcl. 



» Cbantz, Fl. Austr. iii. 54. — HCProdr. n. 2. Sc. Med. ix. 117. — H. proteiforme Cr. — Sphon- 



— Z. latifolium jAca. Fl. Austr. t. 146. di/lium Branca-ursina Hoffm. Umb. 131. 



s L. Spec. 357.— Jacq. Fl. Austr. t. 153. — ^o L. Mantiss. S5i. — S. flavescem BAaua. Fl. 



DC Frodr. n. 16. Trans, i. 214.— DC. Prodr. iv. 191, n. 4. 



' C. Bauh. Pin. 156.— L. Spec. 357.— DC. " Presl. J>el. 135.— DC. Prodr. n. 13. 



Prodr. n. 8.— Gren. et Godr. Fl. de Fr. i. 681. '^ Michx. Fl. Sor.-Amer. i. 166.— DO. Frodr. 



— L. trifurcatum Lamk. — L. cuneatum M(ENCH, n. 12. — Bigel. Fl. Best. 67. 



