Perennial. — Flowers in April, May, and June. 
Root spindle-shaped, branched, somewhat milky. Stem upright, 
? ° F ? f “ l h ' gh ’ leafv ’ round ’ s,riated > hollow, somewhat 
swelled below the joints, especially when full grown; the lower 
part dowhy ; the upper part sleek, and generally devoid of pu- 
bescence. Leaves large, thrice pinnate, leaflets 
deeply cut, the terminating one attenuate, especially in the upper 
leaves, rough at the margin. Umbels smooth, flattisli, rather small 
for the Size of the plant, drooping more or less when youno-, quite 
upright when ,n flower and fruit, many-rayed, on long, generally 
smooth, peduncles. Partial intoliicruins of about 5, "egg-shaped, 
membranous, fringed, reflexed leaves (bracteas). Flowers white or 
reddish; the marginal ones only prolific; petals flat, inversely 
egg-shaped, those of the central flowers nearly equal, but the outer'- 
most of the outer ones largest, and somewhat inversely heart-shaped 
(see fig 1). Filaments whitish, short, and deciduous. Anthers 
yellowish. Germen (fig. 2.) broadest at top, flatfish on both sides, 
S K n % 5*?- L SeC ?*) spear-shaped, with a deep channel on 
each side, blackish polished, quite smooth and even, with a short, 
angular, furrowed beak. Bases of the styles almost globular, seated 
on a scarcely discernible floral receptacle. 
The snow-white flowers, some of the earliest of their tribe, plen- 
tifully adorn the hedges and bushy margins of fields in Spring 
and announce the approach of Summer. The whole herb has the 
flavour of carrots, and is said to be very grateful to' rabbits In 
some parts of ihe kingdom, in times of scarcity the young leaves 
are used as a pot-herb, but the roots are reported to be pofsonous. 
.1. Bauhin mentions instances of two families being poisoned by 
eating small quantities of them. Authors differ very much in their 
opinions respecting the usefulness of this plant as food for cattle. 
I.inneus says that horses, sheep, and goats, are not fond of it • 
and that cows and swine refuse it. According to Villars, horses 
will not eat it even in the stable ; and Mr. Miller says that there 
are few animals who care to eat it except the ass. On the con- 
trary, Mr. Ray informs us that it has the name of Cow-weed be- 
cause it ,s a grateful food to cows, in the Spring, before it runs up 
to stalk ; and in confirmation of this, Mr. Wainwright says that 
cows like it so well, that when a pasture is over-run with it as is 
often the case about Dudley, they always turn them in to eat it up. 
Linnaeus remarks, that this plant indicates a fruitful soil- and 
Dr. Withering says that the umbels afford an indifferent yellow 
dye ; the leaves and stems a beautiful green, (see Mart. Mill. 
Gard. Diet.). 
.1 A , SI ? a . 11, brownish-coloured fungus, Puccinia Umbelliferurum, 
Hook. Brit. FI. v. ii. pt. ii. p.366, is often parasitic on the under 
Surface of the leaves, about June. 
