UMBELLIEERiE. 



329 



when the submerged leaves are divided 

 into capillary segments. Flowering 

 stems 6 to 8 inches high, with small ter- 

 nate or pinnate leaves ; the segments 3- 

 toothed or 3-lobed, each lobe often again 

 3-toothed. Umbels on short peduncles 

 opposite the leaves, as in the procumbent 

 H., but generally of 2 or 3 rays only, 

 without involucre ; the partial umbels of 

 5 or 6 small flowers, with 2 or 3 minute 

 bracts. 



In swamps, shallow ponds and pools, 

 or half-dried mud, chiefly in western and 

 central Europe, extending northwards 

 into southern Sweden, eastwards almost 

 to the Asiatic frontier, but rare in the 

 south. Generally dispersed over Bri- 

 tain, but easily overlooked, and conse- 

 quently supposed to be more rare than 

 is the fact. Fl. summer. 



Tig. 399. 



VIII. SISON. SISON. 



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

 volucres. Petals broad, deeply notched, with an inflected point. 

 Fruit of Apium, except that the axis or carpophore is deeply cleft as 

 in Parsley, and the vittas are slightly thickened at the lower end. 



A single species, formerly considered as a congener of the Corn 

 Parsley. 



1. Hedge Sison. Sison Amomum, Linn. (Fig. 400.) 



(Eng. Bat. t. 945. Bastard Stone Parsley.) 



An erect, glabrous annual or biennial, 2 feet high or rather more, 

 with numerous stiff, slender branches in the upper part. Leaves pin- 

 nate ; the segments of the lower ones ovate or oblong, often an inch 

 long, toothed or lobed, or the lower pair again pinnate ; the upper 

 leaves much smaller, with small, narrow segments, deeply 3-lobed, 

 toothed or entire. Umbels on slender peduncles of 3 to 5 rays, with 

 but few white flowers on short pedicels. Involucres of very few, linear 



