336 



THE UMBELLATE FAMILY. 



In dry pastures, on banks, roadsides, etc., especially in limestone 

 districts, in central and southern Europe, and central Asia, scarcely 

 extending into central Germany. In Britain, not generally diffused, 

 but said to be abundant in some parts of Hertfordshire, Cambridge- 

 shire, and adjoining counties. Not recorded from Ireland. FL sum* 



mer% 



XIII. SIUM. SIUM. 



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

 lucres. Calyx-teeth often prominent. Petals white, notched with an 

 inflected point. Fruit broadly ovoid, somewhat compressed laterally. 

 Carpels with 5 slender ribs, and several vittas under each interstice. 



A small genus, spread over almost all temperate regions of the globe ; 

 resembling Apium in the shape of the fruit, but with the calyx-teeth 

 usually prominent as in Coivhane, and differing from both in the more 

 numerous vittas. 



Stem usually 3 or 4 feet. Umbels all terminal ; rays usually 



15 to 20 1. Broad S. 



Stem much branched, seldom above 2 feet. Umbels mostly 



lateral ; rays usually 10 to 15 2. Lesser S. 



1. Broad Sium. Sium latifolium, Linn. (Fig. 408.) 

 (Eng. Bot. t, 204. Water Parsnip.) 



A glabrous perennial, with a creeping 

 rootstock, and stout erect stems 2 to 4 

 feet high. Lower leaves very long, with 6 

 to 10 pairs of ovate-lanceolate segments, 

 sessile on the common stalk, toothed or 

 rarely slightly lobed, often 2 to 4 inches 

 long ; the upper leaves shorter, with 

 fewer and smaller segments. Umbels 

 rather large, of 15 to 20 rays, and all 

 terminal. Involucres, both general and 

 partial, of several lanceolate bracts, often 

 toothed. Fruits about 1 J lines long and 

 broad, the small pointed teeth of the 

 calyx usually very distinct. 



In wet ditches and on the edges of 

 streams, throughout Europe, except the 

 extreme north; replaced in Asia by a 



Fig. 408. 



