Root of many black, tufted, rather fleshy fibres. Stems ascend- 
ing, from 9 to 18 inches high, smooth, furrowed, slightly branched ; 
branches alternate. Leaves nearly all radical, petiolated, dark 
shining green above, paler underneath, very smooth ; from 5- to 
7-lobed ; lobes mostly 3-cleft, or irregularly cut, finely serrated, 
and slightly ciliate, veiny. Umbels numerous, simple, capitate, 
in an irregular, twice compound, partly umbellate, panicle. Ge- 
neral bractea of 2 pinnatifid leaves ; partial ones of several spear- 
shaped leaves. Flowers whitish, sometimes tinged with red ; the 
barren ones, in the middle of each umbel, most numerous. Fruit 
egg-shaped, rough, with upright, scale-like hooked processes. 
This plant is said to he a native throughout the whole of Europe and Caucasus 
in woods and groves, and particularly by the sides of rivulets. It was much 
celebrated formerly as a vulnerary; it has, however, been long discarded in 
medicine, and in Sir J. E. Smith’s opinion it seems to partake of that poisonous 
acrimony, which is found in most umbelliferous plants growing in a moist rich 
soil. It discovers to the taste some bitterness and roughness, followed by an 
impression of acrimony, which affects chiefly the throat ; the taste is much 
weaker in the fresh leaves than in dried ones. 
Puccinia Sciniculce, Hook. Brit. FI. v. ii. pt. ir. p. 336, is not uncommon ou 
the leaves of this plant, in Bagley Wood, near Oxford. 
The Natural Order Umrellifer.'E, is composed of dicotyledon- 
ous, herbaceous plants, with fistular furrowed stems ; and usually 
divided, or sometimes simple, leaves, with dilated and sheathing 
bases. But what characterizes them best, and gives the name to the 
Natural Family, is the circumstance of the flowers, in almost every 
instance, being arranged in compound umbels, with or without in- 
volucrums. The calyx is superior, either entire (see t. 228. f. 2.) or 
5-toothed (see t. 235. figs. 1 & 2). The corolla (see t. 151. f. 1.) is 
composed of 5 petals, which are inserted on the outside of a fleshy 
disk ; they are usually inflexed at the point ; and are imbricate, 
rarely valvate, in the bud. The stamens, which are 5 in number, 
are alternate with the petals, at first incurved, afterwards spreading. 
The ovary (see 1. 156. f. 2.) is inferior, (inveloped by, and adherent 
with, the tube of the calyx,) 2-celIed, presenting just below where 
the petals are inserted, a thickened margin, or sometimes teeth or 
segments, the only free part of the calyx. The styles are 2, each of 
which is terminated by a simple stigma. The fruit consists of 
2 carpels (see 1. 151. figs. 4,5, & 6.), eventually separating, each with 
its style, and for a time suspended by a central, thread-shaped, and 
2-parted column or axis (see t. 130. f. 6). Each carpel is traversed 
by elevated ridges (see t. 176. f. 6, a. & 1. 180. f. 7.), of which 5 are 
primary, and 4, alternating with them, secondary ; the ridges are 
separated by channels below which are often placed, in the sub- 
stance of the testa (coat of the carpels), certain linear receptacles of 
coloured oily matter, called vittce (see t. 176. f. 6, b.). r Ihe seed is 
pendulous, usually adhering inseparably to the pericarpium, rarely 
loose ; and contains, at the base of abundant horny albumen, a mi- 
nute embryo, the radicle of which points lathe hilum. 
Umbelli/era is a most extensive and extremely important Natural Order, in- 
eluding many poisonous plants, these being chiefly such as grow in watery places, 
-and many esculent and aromatic ones often yielding gum-resins. The fruit of 
this family is never dangerous; those of Coriander, Anise, aud Dill, being 
agreeable- aromatics, i'te Lindt. Syn. and Hook. Brit. Ft. 
