APIACEiE. 



317 



Fig. 155. 



The fruit is nearly globular, aromatic. The mericarps are flat inside, convex on the 

 other, with five ribs, which are broad, and filled with a white cellular substance. 



The Water Hemlock is found in all parts of the United States, growing in 

 wet places, and flowering in July and August. It is well known as one of 

 the most poisonous plants indigenous to the country, and has occasioned the 

 death of many children, from their having eaten the root, in mistake for that 

 of the Sweet Cicely. — 

 When taken in any quan- 

 tity it causes all the symp- 

 toms of the acro-narcotics. 

 The whole plant, in a fresh 

 state, is poisonous ; but by 

 drying, the stem and leaves 

 become innocuous, and are 

 eaten by cattle without 

 danger. The root, how- 

 ever, is the most active 

 portion ; it has a strong 

 aromatic taste and odour, 

 and the cortical portion 

 contains a yellowish, vis- 

 cid juice. 



Medical Properties. — 

 It is a powerful narcotic, 

 somewhat resembling the 

 Conium in its action, sel- 

 dom employed in practice, 

 but has been given as a 

 sedative, to alleviate the 

 pain in scirrhus and can- 

 cer. Dr. Bigelow says 

 that it is identical with the 

 C. virosa in its properties; 

 and it may be mentioned 

 that the C. maculata has 

 been figured for that spe- 

 cies by Bulliard (Plantes 

 de France), and by Roques 

 ( Phytographie Medicate) , 

 as well as in the Flore 

 Medicale. 



The C. virosa, which is common to Europe, is also found in Canada, and 

 is equally poisonous with the above. Haller considered it the Conium of the 

 Greeks. 



C. virosa. 

 1. A flower. 2. Fruit. 



Petroselinum . — Hoffmann. 



Calyx with the limb obsolete. Petals rounded, incurved, scarcely emarginate, with 

 the apex narrow and inflexed. Fruit ovate, compressed at the sides. Mericarps with 5 

 equal ribs, the lateral ones marginal. Channels with single vittce ; commissure with 

 2 vittae. Axis bipartite. Involucre few-leaved ; involucels many -leaved. 



A small genus separated by Hoffmann from Apium, with which, how- 

 ever, it is closely allied. 



