Am-ju$%Trm'}  Cicuta  Maculata.  329 
the  ovary  and  surrounds  the  base  of  the  2  diverging  styles.  The 
fruit  is  a  sub-globular  cremocarp,  about  in.  long,  contracted  or 
compressed  on  the  side,  each  mericarp  having  5  strong  ribs  and  6 
single  oil  tubes,  two  of  which  are  on  the  face.  The  seed  is  sus- 
pended from  the  top  of  the  cell,  and  consists  of  a  minute  embryo, 
surrounded  by  albumen.  The  stem  is  smooth,  branched  at  the  top, 
hollow,  jointed,  usually  of  a  striated  purplish  green  color,  except 
when  growing  in  the  shade,  when  it  is  green.  The  leaves  are  alter- 
nate, pinnately  compound ;  the  leaflets  oblong-lanceolate,  coarsely 
serrate,  the  veins  ending  in  the  notches,  and  not  in  the  points  of  the 
serratures.  The  petioles  are  hollow  and  sheathing  at  base.  The 
root  is  composed  of  from  2  to  7  large,  fleshy  branches,  frequently 
3-4  in.  long  and  I  inch  in  thickness.  In  various  parts  of  the  root 
bark  are  found  cavities  or  cells,  containing  a  yellowish,  resinous 
juice.    It  has  a  strong,  parsley-like  odor  and  taste. 
Microscopical  Structure. — The  root  has  a  corky  layer  consisting  of 
about  3  rows  of  flattened  cells.  The  thick  bark  consists  mostly  of 
parenchyma  tissue,with  large  intercellular  spaces  and  numerous  large 
resin  cells.  Under  the  thin  cambium  zone  is  the  meditullium,  with 
broad  medullary  rays  and  without  wood  fibres,  but  in  the  centre 
with  a  layer  of  large  ducts.  The  hollow  stem  is  made  up  of  a  cyl- 
inder of  wood,  enclosed  by  a  thin  cortical  layer.  The  wood  wedges 
are  slender,  of  the  same  size  as  the  medullary  rays,  and  surround  a 
few  circles  of  parenchyma  of  a  white  color,  the  remnants  of  the  pith. 
The  hollow  petiole  has  a  structure  analogous  to  that  of  the  stem. 
The  epidermis  of  the  upper  side  of  the  leaflets  consist  of  one  row  of 
cells  ;  the  palisade  layer  is  in  one  or  more  rows  of  vertically  elon- 
gated cells;  the  parenchyma,  between  this  layer  and  the  lower 
surface,  encloses  irregular  air  spaces.  On  the  lower  surface  are 
numerous  scattered  stomata.  The  leaves  are  free  from  hairs  on  the 
surface.  The  tissue  of  the  albumen  of  the  seed  is  composed  of 
parenchyma,  containing  colorless  drops  of  fixed  oil,  also  transparent 
colorless  spherical  grains,  several  of  which  are  enclosed  in  each  cell. 
Under  a  high  magnifying  power  they  show  a  series  of  concentric 
layers  ;  they  are  colored  brown  by  iodine.  The  vittae  are  filled  with 
a  yellowish-brown  essential  oil,  and  extend  the  whole  length  of  the 
fruit. 
Chemical  Investigation  of  the  Fruit. — The  fruit  was  gathered  dur- 
ing August,  September  and  October,  before  the  dark  green  color 
