Aprii!"i88r'"  }  Osmorrhiza  Longistylis,  149 
OSMORRHIZA  LONGISTYLIS,  Rafinesque. 
By  Howard  L.  Green,  Ph.G. 
From  an  Inaugural  Essay. 
Synonyms — Uraspermiira  Claytonii,  Nutt.,  Gen,  I,  p.  193 ;  Myr- 
rhis  folii  trilobatis,  Gronovius  Virg.,  p.  148. 
Nat.  ord.,  Umbelliferse ;  Sub-ord.,  Campylospermse. 
A  perennial  herb  indigenous  to  the  rich,  moist  woods  of  the  United 
States  and  Canada,  growing  as  far  south  as  Virginia,  and  West,  as 
Oregon. 
Stems  erect,  2  to  3  feet  high,  of  a  purplish  or  green  color,  pubes- 
cent. 
Leaves  witli  long  petioles,  tripinnate,  the  divisions  broadly  ovate 
with  the  margins  serrate  or  crenate,  of  a  bright  green  color,  slightly 
pubescent,  especially  along  the  midrib,  the  under  surface  shining. 
Flowers  white,  in  compound  umbels  of  2  to  5  rays,  with  an  invo- 
lucre of  1  to  3  narrow  lanceolate  leaflets. 
Umbellets  3-  to  5-rayed,  involucels  of  5  lanceolate  cuspidate  leaflets. 
Calyx  teeth  obsolete. 
Petals  oblong  nearly  entire,  the  points  incurved. 
Styles  slender,  nearly  as  long  as  the  ovary. 
Fruit  linear,  oblong,  angular,  solid  and  attenuated  at  the  base,  some- 
what obtuse  at  the  apex,  upwardly  bristly,  intervals  without  vittse. 
The  underground  portion  consists  of  a  rhizome  1  to  2  inches  long, 
to  which  are  attached  a  number  of  fusiform  roots,  from  3  to  12  inches 
in  length  and  to  f  inch  in  diameter,  of  a  light  brown  color  when 
fresh,  buL  darkening  on  drying. 
The  roots  and  rhizoma  possess  a  strong  arouiatic  odor  and  taste, 
recalling  those  of  anise. 
It  is  from  this  it  derives  its  name,  Osmorrhiza,  the  word  being 
derived  from  two  Greek  words  signifying  perfumed  root. 
The  })lant  is  commonly  known  as  Sweet  Cicely,  Sweet  Root,  l^are- 
goric  Root,  Sweet  Anise. 
It  is  among  the  first  vegetation  of  spring,  when  it  presents  itself  as 
a  cluster  of  bright  compound  leaves,  and  develops  flowers  in  June  and 
July,  the  fruit  maturing  in  August,  after  which  the  plant  dies  to  the 
ground,  and  the  bud  for  next  year's  growth  forms  ^nd  lies  dormant 
until  spring,  when  it  again  bursts  forth  with  verdure  and  beauty. 
