PARSLEY FAMILY. Umbelliferse. 



but varying to broader types. The stem is often branched. 

 The tiny dull light gold yellow flowers have prominent 

 stamens, and are collected in many small clusters, each 

 widely separated from the other, but all forming a thin 

 radiating cluster. Visited commonly by many flies, 

 small butterflies, and but few bees. Seeds slightly 

 ribbed. 16-34 inches high. Everywhere. Me. to S. Dak. 

 Caraway ^ common weed in the north, natural- 



Carum cami ized from Europe. Biennial or perennial ; 

 Dull white the lower basal leaves long-stemmed, the 

 June-July upper stemless ; all finely cut, and orna- 

 mental ; deep olive gray -green ; the flowers grouped like 

 those of wild carrot, but far less showy, dull white or 

 gray-white, in scattered thin groups like Zizia. The 

 seed is oblong, slightly curved, plainly ribbed, exceed- 

 ingly aromatic, and is much used as a spice in cakes, 

 and also in confectionery. The flowers are frequently 

 visited by various flies and bees, the yellow butterfly 

 Colias philodice, and also the white cabbage butterfly 

 Pieris rapce. 1-2 feet high. Local from- Me. , west to 

 Pa., Minn., S. Dak., and Col. Found in Campton, N. H. 

 An erect, slender, usually much- 

 branched and smooth perennial herb, very 

 ted Cowbane poisonous to the taste. The stem marked 

 Cicuta with dull magenta lines. The leaves deep 



maculata green, smooth, often tinged ruddy, with 



Dull white CO arse sharp teeth, and conspicuously 

 June-August , , , . 



veined, the lower ones nearly a foot long. 



The 9-21 leaflets lance-shaped or broader. The incon- 

 spicuous dull white flowers in a thin, flat, somewhat 

 straggling cluster ; they are polygamous. The seed 

 ovate, flat on one side, or nearly so, and inconspicuously 

 ribbed on the other. 3-6 feet high. Visited by number- 

 less bees, wasps, and butterflies. Wet meadows and 

 borders of swamps, from Me., south and west to S. Dak. 

 A similar much-branched herb, from 

 Hemlock which is obtained a virulent poison, used 



Conium in medicine. It bears the name of the 



maculatum Hemlock employed by the ancient Greeks 

 Dull white j n putting to death their condemned po- 

 litical prisoners, philosophers, and crimi- 

 312 



