Outl. of Bot. v. ii. p. 776. — Lindl. FI. Med. p. 49. — Irv. Loud. FI. p. 234. — Impe- 
ratoria major, Bauh. Pin. p. 156. — Gray's Nat. Arr. v. ii. p. 519. — Irnperatoria , 
Johnson’s Gerarde, p. 1001. — Peucidanum Ostrhthium, Koch. Umb. p. 95 — 
Lindl. Syn. p. 116. — Hook. Brit. FI. p. 119. — Mack. FI. Hibern. p. 116. 
Localities. — In moist meadows and pastures ; rare. A doubtful native. — 
Cheshire ; Near J. Oj.dham’s garden at H yde, probably an outcast : Mr. Ufa n- 
bury.— Cumberland ; lly a brook from the N. end of Thirlmere, in a field by 
the road-side: Mr. H. C. Watson, in N. B. G. — Durham ; A t Newbiggeti, near 
Middleton; and in Teesdale Forest: Rev. J. Harriman. On the banks of 
Dadree Burn, between Dadree Shield and the Wear: N. J. Winch, Esq. At 
Cotterton, near Barnard-castle : Mr. F.. Robson. — Shropshire; Near Bridge- 
north, but in a situation that would allow of its being an outcast of a gaiden : 
Dr. Withering. — Westmoreland ; “ I found this plaut in crossing the Moors 
from Brough to Middleton in Teesdale, in a meadow immediately after crossing 
the Lune, as truly wild as ever plant was”: Mr. Brunton, in B. G. — Yorksh. 
Cotherstone, near Barnard-castle: Mr. Robson. Busk, near Semer Water, 
Wensleydale; and near Thoralby : J. Ward, in N. B.G. — SCOTLAND. 
Argyleshire ; Near Mountstewart, Isle of Bute: Rev. J. Ligiitfoot. — Dum- 
bartonshire; Banks of the Clyde, in several places, particularly about Arden- 
caple: Rev. J. Liohtfoot. Edge of woods on the side of Gait- Loch, sparingly : 
Mr. Murray. — Edinburghshire ; Near Borthvvtck Castle : Messrs. Maughan 
and Shutlr. — Fifeshire ; At Milnathort, two miles north from Kinross: Mr. 
Mauchan. — Lanarkshire ; On an old wall at Langland House; and in waste 
ground near Jackton: FI. Glot. — Linlithgowshire; Plantation opposite the 
house of Black Hall, West Lothian: Mr. Maughan. — Peebleshire ; On the 
side of the Tweed, about half a mile above the old Castle of Drummelzier: Dr. 
Burgess, in FI. Scot. — IRELAND. County of Down; Old hedges on the 
town-land of Ballydolaghan, to all appearance peitectly wild: Mr. Campbell, 
in FI. Hibernica. 
Perennial. — Flowers in June. 
Root thick and fleshy, tuberous, brown on the outside, whitish 
within, somewhat creeping, with many lateral fibres. Stem up- 
right, from 1 to 2 feet high, hollow, round, striated, smooth, leafy, 
simple, or slightly branched. Lower leaves on long petioles, twice 
ternate; upper leaves less compound, on shorter petioles ; with a 
sheathing, membranous, sometimes jagged, dilatation at the base. 
Leaflets broad, veiny, smooth on both sides, rough-edged, sharply 
and unequally serrated, partly cut or lobed, the middle one, some- 
times all three, deeply 3-cleft; the uppermost often very narrow. 
Umbels few, terminal, large, flattish, of many (often 40 or more) 
smooth rays. Umbellules of still more rays ; with an involucellum 
( partial involucrumj of several bristle-shaped leaves. Flowers 
white, or pale flesh-coloured, numerous ; petals equal, indexed. 
Styles short, reflexed, capitate. Fruit nearly circular, smooth, straw- 
coloured, shining, with a notch at the top and bottom. Carpels 
compressed, surrounded at the sides with a broad thin margin, and 
marked on the back with three while, acute-angled ribs, not winged ; 
the inner face flat. 
This plant is a native throughout Europe ; also in Newfoundland. It is thought 
not to be an original native of Britain, but is considered to have become naturalized 
from gardens, it having been much cultivated formerly for the sake of its root, which 
is of an aromatic and acrid quality, and was long supposed a sovereign counter 
poison, and celebrated as a powerful external, as well as internal remedy in numer- 
ous disorders. It is said to be a sudorific, diuretic, and sialogogue ; recommended 
in dropsy and debilities of the stomach and bowels. An infusion of it in wine is 
said to have cured quartan agues which had resisted the influence of Peruvian bark. 
Haifa dram of the root in substance, and one drain of it in infusion, is the quantity 
directed to be taken four times a day. It has been recommended as a masticatory 
to relieve the toothache ; and many writers on Materia Medica speak well of it as 
a febrifuge. 
