Daucus.] XXXV. UMBELLIFER^]. 201 



1. D. Carota, Linn. (fig. 452). Common C. — An erect annual or 

 biennial, 1 to 3 feet high, with a tap-root. Lower leaves twice or thrice 

 pinnate, with deeply 3-lobed or pinnatifid segments, usually lanceolate 

 or linear, sometimes short and crenate ; upper leaves with fewer and 

 narrower divisions. Umbels terminal, rather large, with numerous 

 crowded rays ; the inner ones very short, the outer much longer, and 

 usually closing over after flowering, so as to give a concave or globular 

 form to the umbel, with the fruit inside. Bracts of both involucres 

 usually divided into 3 or 5 long linear lobes. Fruit covered with prickles, 

 of which the larger ones are often much flattened at the base. 



Probably an original native of the sea-coasts of southern Europe, but 

 of very ancient cultivation, and sows itself most readily, soon degenerat- 

 ing to the wild form with a slender root, and now most abundant in 

 fields, pastures, waste places, &c, throughout Europe and Russian Asia. 

 Common in Britain, especially near the sea. FL the whole summer and 

 autumn, A maritime variety, with the leaves somewhat fleshy, with 

 shorter segments, more or less thickened peduncles, more spreading 

 umbels, and more flattened prickles to the fruits, is, D. gummifer, Lamck., 

 D. maritimus, With. , but in many seaside localities a regular passage from 

 that to the common form may be readily traced. 



XXXIII. CONIUM. HEMLOCK 



Leaves dissected. Umbels compound, with general and partial invo- 

 lucres and small white flowers. Fruit broadly ovate, somewhat laterally 

 compressed, without distinct calycine teeth. Carpels with 5 prominent 

 ribs, which when ripe are often slightly waved or crenated. No vittas. 

 Albumen with a deep longitudinal furrow on the inner face. 



A single species, with the short fruit of an Apium or Cicuta, but differ- 

 ing essentially in the deeply furrowed albumen. 



1. C. maculatum, Linn. (fig. 453). Hemlock. — An erect, branching 

 annual or biennial, 3 to 5 feet high or sometimes more, usually glabrous, 

 and emitting a nauseous smell when bruised. Leaves large and much 

 divided into numerous small ovate or lanceolate deeply cut segments ; 

 the upper leaves gradually smaller and less divided. Umbels terminal, 

 not large for the size of the plant, of 10 to 15 rays. Bracts short and 

 lanceolate ; those of the general involucre variable in number ; those of 

 the partial ones almost always 3, turned to the outside of the umbel. 

 Fruit about 2 lines long. 



On the banks of streams, along hedges, and the borders of fields, &c, 

 widely spread over Europe and temperate Asia, though not always 

 common. Generally distributed over Britain. FL summer. 



XXXIV. PHYSOSPERMUM. PHYSOSPERM. 



Leaves dissected. Umbels compound, with general and partial in- 

 volucres. Flowers white. Fruit 2-lobed, the carpels nearly globular, 

 and attached by a narrow edge, each with 5 scarcely visible rays, and 

 single vittas to the interstices. Albumen with a longitudinal furrow 

 on the inner face. 



A genus of very few species, from Europe and temperate Asia. 



1. P. cornubiense, DC. (fig. 454). Cornish P.— Stock perennial, 



