UMBELLIFERJ5. 



351 



In meadows, and moist, bushy pas- 

 tures, throughout Europe and Russian 

 Asia, except the extreme north. In 

 Britain, spread over England and south- 

 ern Scotland, but scarce in the western 

 counties and in Ireland. Fl. summer, 

 rather late. 



Fig. 424. 



XXII. SPIGNEL. MEUM. 



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 two or three European species, differing by characters 

 of very little importance from Lovage, with which some botanists 

 unite it. 



1. Common Spignel. Meum Athamanticum, J acq. 

 (Eig. 425.) 



(Eng. Bot. t. 2249. Spignel, Meu, or 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 appear- 

 ance of being whorled or clustered along the common stalk, as in the 

 whorled Carum, 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 



