192 THE UMBELLATE FAMILY. [Ligusticum. 



divided into 3, each branch bearing 3 broadly ovate or obovate toothed 

 segments, or 1 segment deeply divided into 3 lobes, each segment above 

 an inch long. Upper leaves less divided, with short stalks. Umbels of 

 12 or 20 rays, with a general involucre of 2 or 3 very narrow bracts, and 

 more numerous ones to the partial umbels. Fruit near 4 lines long. 



A high northern plant, extending all round the Arctic Circle. Common 

 on the rocky sea-coasts of Scotland and northern Ireland, descending also 

 to the north-east of England. Fl. summer. 



XIX. SILAUS. SILAUS. 



Leaves dissected. Umbels compound, with partial involucres of several 

 bracts. Flowers yellowish. Petals scarcely notched. Fruit nearly of 

 Ligusticum, ovoid, but slightly compressed, with the ribs scarcely acute, 

 and the vittae much less conspicuous. 



A genus of 2 or 3 European and Asiatic species, but slightly differing 

 from Ligusticum, chiefly in the colour of the flowers. 



1. S. pratensis, Bess. (fig. 431). Pepper Saxifrage. — A glabrous, erect 

 perennial, 1 to 2 or sometimes near 3 feet high, slightly branched. Leaves 

 once, twice, or three times pinnate ; the segments not numerous, narrow- 

 oblong, \ to 1 inch long, entire or 3-lobed. Umbels all terminal, not 

 large, of about 6 to 8 rays. General involucres usually of 1 or 2 small 

 bracts, with several small narrow-linear ones to the partial umbels. 

 Flowers of a pale greenish-yellow. Carpels about 2 lines long. 



In meadows, and moist, bushy pastures, throughout Europe and 

 Russian Asia, except the extreme north. In Britain, spread over England 

 and south-eastern Scotland, but scarce in the western counties and in 

 Ireland. Fl. summer, rather late. 



XX. MEUM. SPIGNEL. 



Leaves finely dissected. Umbels compound, with partial involucres of 

 several bracts. Petals white or pink, entire, with an incurved point. 

 Fruit oblong, without distinct calycine teeth. Carpels with 5 prominent 

 acute ribs, and 2 or 3 vittas under each furrow. 



A genus of 2 or 3 European species, differing by characters of very 

 little importance from Ligusticum, with which some botanists unite it. 



1. M. athamanticum, Jacq. (fig. 432). Spignel Meu, Baldmoney — 

 Stock short, perennial, covered with the fibrous remains of old leaves, 

 and emitting a tuft of radical leaves ; their segments deeply cut into 

 numerous very fine, but short lobes, so as to have the appearance of 

 being whorled or clustered along the common stalk, as in Carum verti- 

 cillatum, but the stalk itself is once or twice pinnately divided, not simple 

 as in that plant. Stems 1 or rarely near 2 feet high, with a very few 

 smaller and less divided leaves. Umbels terminal, not large, of 10 to 15 

 rays, with 1 or 2 narrow bracts to the general one, and partial involucres 

 of a small number of short, slender bracts. Fruits about 4 lines long. 



In mountain pastures, in western and central Europe, not extending 

 eastward beyond the Russian frontier, nor northward into Scandinavia. 



