148 



WEEDS AXD USEFUL PLANTS. 



stray from the garden into the fields, where it speedily degenerates, and, 

 if neglected, becomes a troublesome unsightly weed. 



3. HEEACLE'UM, L. Cow-paesxip. 



[Dedicated to Hercules.] 



Fruit broadly winged-margined ; carpels slenderly 5-ribbed, the lateral 

 ones close to the margin ; oil-tubes shorter than the carpels. Stout peren- 

 nials ; leaves large, ternately dissected ; petioles broad and sheathing ; 

 umbels flat, large, the outer flowers commonly larger and appearing 2-cleft ; 

 involucre few-leaved, deciduous ; mvoluceh many-leaved. 



H. lana'tum, Mx. Woolly; stem sulcate; segments of the leaves 

 broad, palmate-lobed, subcordate at base. 

 Woolly Heracleujl Cow-parsnip. Masterwort. 



stem 4-8 feet high, branched above. Segments of the leaves 4- 10 or 12 inches in length 

 and as wide as long, the middle one often 3-lobed ; petioles 1 - 4 inches long. Umbels some- 

 times a foot or more in breadth, the rays 2-6 inches long. Involucels of 5-8 leaves, 

 which are lanceolate, with a long slender point. Flowers white. 



Eich low grounds. More common northward. May - July. 



Obs. This very conspicuous strong-scented plant is sometimes used in 

 medicine. The seeds are aromatic. The root is very acrid when fresh, 

 and produces blisters when applied to the skin. Much of its acridity is 

 lost by drying, and in this state it is used as a stimulant. The plant has 

 a doubtful reputation, and should be used with caution. 



4. ARCHEM'OEA, DC. Cow-bane. 



[Named from Archemorus^ — who, it is said, died from eating Parsley.] 



Calyx 5-toothed. Fruit elliptic-ovate, convex or leuticularly compressed. 

 Carpels with 5 equidistant obtuse ribs, the lateral ones dilated into a 

 fiattish thin-edged margin. Oil-tubes one in each channel, and 4-6 on 

 the inner face. Jnt'o/ucre 0 or few-leaved, inro/ wce/s many-leaved. Stem 



Fig. 99. Fruit of the Cow Parsnip (Heracleum lanatum.) in which the oil-t»bes do nof 

 fill the whole length of the channels. 100. The same cut across, both enlarged. 



