The BRITISH HERBAL. 
407 
Earthnut. 
Btdbocajlanum. 
The root is a tuberous lump, of the bignefs of 
« chefnut, and of a fweet pleafant talle : it lies 
at about five inches depth ; and the plant rifes 
from it in a fmall white ftalk. The root is brown 
on the outfidc, and white within. 
The leaves arc beautifully divided into flender 
parts. 
The flalk is firm, upright, llriated, and two 
feet high. 
The flowers are fmall and white; and the f--eds, 
when ripe, are blackilh. 
It is common in dry, hilly paftures, and flov/ers 
in Augufl:. 
C. Bauhine calls it Bulbocaftamm majus. Others, 
lamm majus, and minus. 
The root is eatable and wholefome. 
GENUS XII. 
WATERDROPWORT. 
(E N J N T H E. 
rr-^HE flowers are difpofed in fmall umbells, placed upon a few principal ftalks, and many (hort 
X ones at the fubdivifions. There ttand fcveral Ihort leaves at the bafe of the principal footftalks, 
indalfoofthefubdivifions. Each flower is compofed of five petals, but in an unequal manner ; 
thofe at the ed-es having the petals larger, and fplit ; thofe in the centre having them only heart- 
fa(h.oned and a little bent. The cup is large, and divided into five fegments. The feeds are tvvo : 
they are of an oval figure, rounded, and ftriated on one fide, and plain on the other, and dented at 
''^ L-'innxus places this among the fentandria dlgynia ; the ftyli 
each flower. 
!. Common Water Dropwort, 
,es being two, and the threads five in 
The root is compofed of numerous fibres, 
with fmall flelhy bulbs or tuberous parts con- 
nefted to them. ,. . , , 
The fitfl leaves are fmall, and lightly divided 
into a few long, flender fegments. 
The n:alk is upright, hollow, flrriated, and two 
feet high. 
The leaves on this are divided into numerous, 
long, and flender fegments ; and are of a faint 
green. . , , r j 
The flowers are fmall and white, and the feeds 
arc large and brown. 
St is common by waters, and flowers in June. 
C. Bauhine calls it (Eimitke aimtica. Others, 
Fslifendula aqu(itica. 
It is a diuretick and deobfl:ruent, but is not in 
ufe at this time. 
2. LelTer Water Dropwort. 
CEnanthe minor triftara. 
i he root is fibrous ; and has a few oblong, tu- 
berous pieces connefled to the Airings. 
The firft leaves are fmall, and divided into fe- 
veral long, flender fegments, of a bluifli green. 
The ftalks are weak, hollow, ftriated, very 
ilender, and not more than ten inches high. 
The leaves on thefe refemble thofe from the 
root, being compofed of a few fine fmall irregu- 
lar fegments. 
The flowers are fmall and white, and the prin- 
cipal ftalks, which form the umbel, are only 
three : the fubdivifions are more numerous. 
The feeds are large and brown. 
It is not uncommon about waters in our 
fouthern counties, and in fome other places. It 
'flowers in July. 
Ray calls it (Emnthi aptatica triflara. 
3. Hemlock Dropwort. 
CEnanthe cicutec facie. 
The root is compofed of numerous, long, thick, 
tuberous parts ; and is of a very unpleafant tafte, 
and full of a juice which turns yellow on coming 
to the air. 
The firft leaves are divided into numerous, 
broad, oblong, ferrated fegments ; and are very 
large. 
The ftalk is ftriated, round, branched, and 
three feet high. 
The leaves on thefe refemble thofe from the 
root, but they are fmaller ; and they are of a pale 
green. 
The flowers are fmall, and the umbells of them 
moderately large. 
It is common about the Thames fide, and elfe- 
where by waters. It flowers in July. 
C. Bauhine calls it (Enanlhe cbarsphylli foliis. 
Others, CEnanthe cicutte facie. 
The roots arc the moft terrible poifon Eng- 
land produces. 
4. Pimpernell Dropwort. 
CEnanthe foUis fimpinella faxifraga. 
The root is compofed of long fibres, with a 
few tuberous lumps connetfted to them. 
The firft leaves are very elegantly divided into 
numerous, oblong, pointed parts ; and are of a 
deep green. 
The ftalk is ftriated, branchfd, and a foot 
high. 
rhe leaves on it are fmall, finely divided, and 
of a pale green. 
The flowers are very little and white. 
The feeds are brown. 
We have it by the fides of our fen-ditches; It 
flowers in Auguft. 
J. Bauhine calls it CEnanthe Stafholini folio ; a 
name copied by moft others. 
GENUS 
0 
