PENTANDRIA. DIGYNIA. Myrrhis. 
389 
(Root spindle-shaped, branched, milky. Stem nearly three feet high. Petals 
sometimes notched, sometimes entire. FI. Brit. E.) Stem woolly, par¬ 
ticularly downwards. Central florets of the umbellules often barren. St. 
Flowers white. Styles permanent, (their bases almost globular. E.) 
Wild or Smooth Chervil. Cow Parsley. (Welsh: Gorthyfail llyfn. 
E.) Hedges, orchards, and pastures. P. May—June.* 
(MYR'RHXS. Fruit deeply furrowed : Cal. none : Pet. in¬ 
versely heart-shaped, rather unequal: FI. receipt, none : 
Flowers imperfectly separated. Sm. E.) 
M. temulen'ta. Stem spotted, joints swollen: stem and leaves rough : 
leafits cut, acute : (seeds furrowed, smooth. E.) 
Ft. Dan. 918— Jacq. Aust. 65— (E. Rot. 1521. E.)— Riv. Pent. 49. Myrrhis. 
—Ger. 867— Ger. Em. 1038. 2— Park. 915— Pet. 25. 3— H. Ox. ix. 10. 7 
— J. B. iii. 2. 70. 2 and 1. 
From half to one yard high. Involucrum none, or from one to four leaves. 
Involucellum one leaf, with six or eight clefts. Flowers very white; petals 
cloven. Relh. Umbelhdes in the centre barren. (Whilst immature, the 
umbels continue drooping or nodding ; Virgines dormientes.” E.) 
(Rough Cicely. (Welsh: Gorthyfailgaw. M.temula. Spreng. M. te- 
mulenta. Sm. Chaeroyhyllum temulum (temulentum). Linn. With. Willd. 
Curt. Hook. Grev. FI. Brit. E.) In hedges,, common. 
(B. E.) July—Aug.t 
(M. au'rea. Stem somewhat swollen, angular, more or less hairy: 
leafits pinnatifid, acute, cut: seeds coloured, ribbed: (general 
bracteas few; partial deflexed. E.) 
Jacq. Austr. v. 1. t. 64— E. Rot. 2103. 
Distinguished from every other British species by the leafits, especially in 
the upper leaves, being peculiarly attenuated. Hook. Stem three feet 
high, branched, solid, angular, striated, slightly tumid below each joint, 
clothed more or less with short, soft, deflexed hairs, among which a few 
short bristles are occasionally interspersed. The common leaf-stalk sur¬ 
rounds the stem by a ring at its base, but its edges upwards are linear 
and but little dilated. The leaves and leafits have sharp and rather elon¬ 
gated points, and are acutely pinnatifid and roughisb. Umbels flattish, 
cream-coloured, often having the rudiments of a general involucrum. 
Seeds, when young, rather tumid upwards; as they ripen, more spear- 
shaped, tawny or yellowish, with three broad, smooth ribs at each side, 
and crowned with the divaricated styles. 
* The roots eaten as parsneps have been found poisonous. The umbels afford an 
indifferent yellow dye; the leaves and stems a beautiful green. Its presence indicates a 
fruitful soil. Neither horses, sheep, nor goats are fond of it. Cows and swine refuse it. 
Linn. It is grateful to cows and rabbits. In some parts of the kingdom, in times of 
scarcity, it is used as a potherb. Curt. Cows are so fond of it, that when a pasture is 
over-run with it, as is often the case about Dudley, they are always turned in to eat it up. 
Mr. Wainwright. (Other writers advise its extirpation from pastures, as at least a cum¬ 
brous intruder, only fit food for asses. The leaves are recommended by Geoffroy as aperient 
and diuretic. The under sides of the leaves frequently exhibit the little fungus Puccinia 
Cheer ophy lli, scattered thickly in small round dots, of a brown colour. E.) 
+ (The whole plant, is sweetish and aromatic, acceptable to cattle. Sm. Having a 
spotted stalk it is sometimes substituted for Hemlock ; and the Extract is also sold for that 
of Con. mac. Gray. E.) 
