FRUITS. 
191 
separated by thrashing. The fruits from plants grown 
in Holland are preferred. 
Description. — Mericarps usually separated ; crerno- 
carp oblong, laterally compressed, 4 to 6 mm. long, 2 
to 3 mm. in diameter, externally dark brown, sur- 
mounted by a small somewhat globular stylopodium 
and five minute calyx teeth ; primary ribs ten in num- 
ber, filiform, yellowish, between each of which are 
slight, secondary ribs ; internally dark brown, meri- 
carps curved, narrowed at both ends, and with a 
slender carpophore attached to each, the latter five- 
angled in cross section, the commissural surface with 
two vittse, the dorsal surface with four vittse between 
each of the primary ribs ; seeds irregularly oblong in 
section, with a small embryo at the upper end of the 
reserve layer; odor and taste aromatic. 
Constituents. — Volatile oil from 5 to 7 per cent.; 
fixed oil ; tannin, calcium oxalate, and 5 to 8 per cent, 
of ash. 
C03STIUM (Poison Hemlock). 
The fruit of Conium maculatum (Fam. Umbelliferss), a 
biennial herb indigenous to Europe, and naturalized 
in North and South America and in various parts of 
Asia. The fruit is collected when full grown but 
still green from wild plants, carefully dried and 
preserved. 
Description. — Mericarps usually separated ; cremo- 
carp broadly ovoid, slightly compressed laterally, 3 to 
4 mm. long, about 2 mm. in diameter, with a pedicel 3 
to 5 mm. long, externally grayish green, with ten 
straight more or less crenate yellowish ribs, stylopo- 
dium depressed, internally greenish brown, with a 
slender carpophore attached to each mericarp, the 
latter five -angled in cross section and without any 
