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CONIUM Arracacha. 
Arracacha. 
PENTANDRIA DIGYNIA.— Nat. Ord. UMBELLIFER^. 
Gen. Char. — Fructus ovatus, costis 10, acutis, immaturis undulatis (an 
semper }). Cal. obsoletus. Pet. obcordata subinaequalia. Styli basi tu- 
midiusculi. Receptac floris dilatatum depressum undulatum persistens. 
Flores subirregulares herraaphroditi (nunc imperfecti). — Sm. 
Conium Arracacha ; foliis pinnatis, pinnis 5 late ovatis acuminatis in- 
ciso-pinnatifidis profunda serratis, duobus inferioribus petiolatis sub- 
tematis, floribus radii hermaphroditicis, centri masculinis vel omnino 
imperfectis. 
C. moschatum, Humb. et Kunth, Nov. Gen. v. 5. p. 14. t. 420.?— Kunth, 
Syn. PL Mq. v. ill. p. 97- ? 
Root, in a state of cultivation, forming large oblong tubers, often as large as 
that of the carrot. Stem a foot and a half or more in height, branched 
above, terete, striated, glabrous, leaves glabrous, the lower ones upon 
very long, striated footstalks, sheathing at the base, pinnated with 5 broad- 
ly ovate, acuminated pinnae, pinnatifid, cut and deeply and irregularly 
serrated at the margin ; of these pinnae, the uppermost one is more or 
less petiolated and subternate. Upwards upon the stem, the leaves 
become gradually smaller, more simple, and with shorter petiols, till at 
length the uppermost ones are almost sessile, trifid or tripartite, and 
acutely serrated ; and all of them nerved and veined. 
Umbels rarely lateral, mostly terminal, small, compound. Involucres none. 
Partial ones few, small, subulate, about 3. Rays 10-12. Fhwers on 
short pedicels ; abortive ones nearly sessile, occupying the centre of the 
partial umbels. These are of two kinds : some bear perfect stamens, 
and differ from the perfect flowers in having no pistil, and only a small 
depressed superior disk or gland ; others are altogether imperfect, very 
small: their petals never expand (see Fig. 1.), and the stamens which 
surround a small depressed gland are extremely imperfect. The her- 
maphrodite Jlorvers occupy the circumference, and have 5 nearly equal, 
spreading, inversely heart-shaped 2Jetals, with an incurved acumen, 
whitish, green on the outside in the centre. Stamens 5. Filaments 
curved. Anthers roundish, somewhat 2-lobed. Gerrnen ovate, with 10 
striae. Styles 2, erect, afterwards curved outwards, their bases slightly 
swelling, and surrounded by a waved annulus. Fruit (but hardly ripe) 
VOL. II. 
