1 18 WILD FLOWERS OF THE BRITISH ISLES 
Callous-fruited Water-Drop wort. ((Enanthe pimpinelloides, Linn.)— Flowers 
white, in numerous flat clusters, with the central flowers of each small cluster perfect, but the 
outer ones without perfect carpels ; the bracts surrounding the entire cluster few, small and 
narrow, or o ; those surrounding each little cluster several ; the fruit oblong, 2-seeded, with a 
corky base, crowned with the calyx-teeth and styles, which become rigid, the styles being shorter 
than in the last species. [As just described in the genus CEnanthe.] Stem 1-3 feet high, hollow, 
furrowed, and slightly branched ; the leaves very variable, usually more divided and pointed 
than in the last species, the upper ones pointed and longer than their solid sheathing stalks. 
Root fibres with tubers. 
Rare. Pastures, meadows, and marshes in the south of England. June — August. Perennial. 
Sulphur wort Water-Drop wort. (CEnanthe silaifolia, Bieberstein.)— A very similar 
species to the last, the Callous-fruited Water-Dropwort, but with fewer flower clusters ; no bracts 
round the entire cluster, but many round the little flower clusters ; fruit without a corky base ; and 
spindle-shaped root fibres. A larger, stouter plant. 
Rare. Marshes, chiefly in the south-east of England. June — July. Perennial. 
Parsley Water-Dropwort. (CEnanthe Lachenalii, C. Gmel.)— Another similar species 
to the Callous-fruited Water-Dropwort, with smaller flowers, and nearly equal petals ; fruit clusters 
round, fruit without a corky base ; the lower leaflets divided into much broader, blunter leaflets 
and lobes, and the root fibres fleshy and thickened, but without tubers. 
Not uncommon. Marshes, especially salt marshes and ditches. July — September. Perennial. 
Hemlock Water-Dropwort. (CEnanthe crocata, Linn.)— Flowers white, with purple 
stamens, in large, showy clusters, the outer flowers rarely seeding ; bracts round the entire cluster 
few or o, round each separate flower cluster numerous, small ; fruit oblong, crowned with its calyx- 
teeth and 2 styles. [As described in the genus CEnanthe.] Stem 2-5 feet high, erect, stout, 
hollow, branched at the top ; the leaves large, almost stalkless, divided to the midrib into several 
pairs of broad leaflets and 1 terminal one, which are similarly sub-divided into triangular lobed 
leaflets, and sometimes further sub-divided (bi- or tri-imparipinnate) ; the upper leaves stalkless, 
except for the very short, dilated sheaths. Root fibres forming thick, long tubers. 
The whole plant and its roots are very poisonous. 
Common. Wet places. June — August. Perennial. 
Fine-leaved Water-Dropwort, Horse-bane. (CEnanthe Phellandrium, Lam.) — 
Flowers white, all perfect, in small, nearly stalkless clusters opposite the leaves ; no bracts 
surrounding the entire flower cluster, those surrounding each separate flower cluster many, small, 
and narrow ; the fruit oblong, crowned with its 5 calyx-teeth and 2 styles. [As just described in 
the genus CEnanthe.] Stems 2-4 feet high, erect, very thick, and branched ; the leaves when 
growing out of water divided to the base into several pairs of leaflets and 1 terminal one, which 
are similarly sub-divided into deeply lobed leaflets and sometimes again sub-divided in like manner 
(bi- or tri-imparipinnate), the submerged leaves with hair-like leaflets ; with the leaf-stalks sheathing at 
the base. Root of numerous slender fibres, none thickened as in the preceding species. Poisonous. 
Not uncommon. In still water and wet places. July — September. Biennial. 
River Water-Dropwort. (CEnanthe fluviatilis, Coleman.)— A floating plant; the 
part of the plant which flowers and rises out of the water is very similar to the last species, differing 
in the leaves being less deeply divided. The floating stem has numerous root-fibres, and the leaves 
under water are divided and sub-divided to the midrib into several pairs of narrow leaflets and 1 
terminal one, 3-lobed at the tip (bi-imparipinnate) ; with the leaf-stalks sheathing at the base. 
Rare. In running water in the south. July — September. Biennial. 
