76 



ORNAMENTAL UMBELLIFEROUS PLANTS. 



and proportions, but rather, it would seem, from the general ab- 

 sence of conspicuous colour in their flowers, and the great simi- 

 larity of character which prevails among them. Yet it is true 

 that, apart from gaudy colours, there is no paucity of elegant 

 forms in this extensive and most natural group. The common 

 Hemlock, when in a healthy and vigorous condition, may be cited 

 as an example supporting this assertion. 



But though asserting the beauty of such plants as the Hemlock, 

 to which temporary reference has been made, it is not the merits 

 of these in an ornamental point of view which it is the object of the 

 following memoranda to set forth. It is rather hoped to draw 

 attention towards some individuals of what may be designated 

 the nobility of the order, the individuals referred to being some 

 species of Ferula well adapted for pleasure ground embellish- 

 ment, and an Heracleum worthy of a situation in what is called 

 wilderness scenery. The latter, as being the least important, 

 will be first disposed of. 



The Heracleum giganteum is the species I have in view. 

 Those who are at all acquainted with the genera of umbelliferous 

 plants need not to be told that the Heraeleums are a somewhat 

 coarse-looking family; and to this characteristic the Giant Cow- 

 parsnep offers no exception. Hence it is more appropriate to 

 such situations as the bold openings of rude or wilderness scenery 

 than for the more highly-kept departments of the garden. But 

 despite its coarseness, it is a noble plant ! Imagine a herb of 

 which no trace is apparent during winter, save the crown of its 

 root, putting forth in spring a circlet — one might almost from 

 their magnitude say a forest — of leaves cut into a multitude of 

 large but curiously-formed leaflets and lobes, and soon acquiring 

 an immense magnitude, the leaves — usually three or four in num- 

 ber from a single crown — covering a space of 2 or 3 yards in 

 diameter ; add to this a flower-stem, growing some 8 or 10 feet 

 high, nearly 3 inches in diameter below, and about June or July 

 crowned by a central umbel of flowers forming a white convex 

 head upwards of a foot across, around which branch out several 

 semi-horizontal wide-spreading arms bearing at their extremities a 

 series of scarcely smaller umbels, succeeding the first in the de- 

 velopment of their blossoms ; and a tolerable idea will be formed 

 of the appearance of this giant herb, which, but for its large size, 

 its roughness, and its stout proportions, might claim a more 

 aristocratic position than has been assigned to it. It is of the 

 easiest culture : a hardy perennial, perfecting seeds in abun- 

 dance, which, if allowed to do so, spring up self-sown. 



The species of Ferula, now specially recommended as pleasure- 

 ground ornaments, are F. tingitana and F. glauca, both of which 

 would form objects of the greatest beauty planted as single spe- 



