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Show 33° rhe Hiflory of P L A N T S. 3· Selinum foliis radicalibus ovatis inequaliter ferratis, radice multiplici. The oval, ferrated-leaved Selinum, with a multiple root. The root is compofed of a number of oblong bodies, each half an inch in diameter, and often two feet long, all capillated at their tops, black on the outfi~ e, white within, and, when cut, affording a thick, mucilaginous juice, of a refinous, but not difagreeable tafte : the radical leaves are a foot and a half long, and fiand on long pedides ; they are compofed of a multitude of pinnre~ of a kind of oval .figure~ .but pointed and jagged round the edges ; they are of a blUifh-green colour, thtck, ng1d, and gloify; the ftalk grows to five ' or fix feet high ; it is round, firiated, and ramofe ; the leaves fiand alternately on it, and are like the radical ones: the umbels are large, and the flowers white. It is frequent about the banks of the Rhine, and in the German vineyards. J. Bauhine calls it, Libanotis ditl:a cervaria nigra; others, Libanotis nigra; C. Bauhine, Daucus montanus apii folio major. The other fpecies are, 1. The yellow-flowered, cicuta-leaved Selinum. 2. The anife-leaved, oriental Selinum, called African anife, and fhrubby Ferula. 3· The broad-leaved Selinum, called the Thyifelinum of Pliny; and, 4· The Siberian Selinum, with fimply-pinnated, incifo-angulated leaves. AT HAMAN T A. T HE general umbel is multiple and patent; the partial umbel is compofed of fewer radii: the general involucrum is compofed of many leaves, linear, and fomewhat fhorter than the radii ; the partial involucrum is linear, ahd equal to the rays in length: the proper perianthium is fcarce diftinguifhable : the general corolla is uniform: the fingle flowers confifl: of five inflexo-cordate petals, fomewhat unequal: the ftamina are five capillary filaments, of the length of the corolla : the antherre are roundifh; the germen ftands below the perianthium : the ftyles are two, and reflex; the fiigmata are obtu.fe: there is no pericarpium : the fruit is compofed of two oval feeds, convex, and ftnated on one fide, fmooth and plane on the other, and is of an oval figure. 1. Athamanta foliis capillaribus, Jeminibus (Tlabris. 'Ihe capillary-leaved Athamanta, with Jmooth feeds. ~ptgnct. The root is oblong, and moderately thick, fometimes fingle, fometimes multiple, brow1: on the outfide, and white within, and ufually furnifhed at the head with a tuft of hairy matter, formed of the fibres of decayed leaves; the radic~l leaves are very large; they ftand on long pedicles, and are divided into a multitude of extremely narrow and oblong fegments; they fomewhat refemble the leaves of fennel, but the fegmen ts are finer, and not fo long. The ftalk is round, ftriated, and branched toward the top ; the leaves ftand alternately on it, and are like the radical ones, but fmaller : the u~bels are moderately large, the flowers fmall and whitiili, the feeds large, oblong, ftnated, and fmooth. V:'e hav~ it wild in the north of England in abundance. C. Bauhine calls it, Meum folits anetfu; others, Meum, and Meum officinarum. The root has been in much efteem as an alexipharmic, · and is an ingredient in feveral of the old compofitions. 2. Athamanta foliis inferioribus nitidis, umbel/is primordialibus Jubjejjilibus, Jeminibus pilojis. The fmooth-leaved Athamanta, with the primordial umbels Jubfejfile, and the feeds hairy. The root is oblong, thick,. and furnifhed with many fibres : the radical leaves are large; they fiand on long ped1cles, and are divided into a multitude of fine, very narrow fegments, and of a gloify furface. The ftalk is round, jointed, ramofe, and a little The Hi.ftory of P L A N T S. 33 1 little hairy : the leaves fl:and alternately on it, and are like the radical ones) but famewhat ha_iry : the ~1mbels are large; the flower~ fmall and white; the feeds hairy : the primord1al umbel IS fubfeffile, the lateral ones nfe. It is a native of Italy, Sicily, and fome parts of Germany; authors have be~n much puzzle~ h~w to ar~ange it.. ~aHer ~~lls it, Libanotis foliis multifidis pl~nis; Morrifon, Myrrh1s S1culm elat10r tenumnbus folus; Tournefort, Cha::rophyllum S1culum foliis fophire, femioe villofo. 3· Athamanta Joliis duplicato-pinnatis, planis, umbella hcemflpherica,femi- . · nibus hiifutis. The duplicato-pinnate, plane-leaved Athamanta, with hcemflpheric umbels, and hairy feeds. The root is oblong, and very large, often of the thicknefs of a man's wrilt, blackilh on the outfide, white within, and full of an acrid, gummous j uice : the radical leaves are large, and compofed of a multitude of pinn ~, fomewhat broad, ferrated at their edges, and of a pale green colour on the upper furface, and greyi[h below. The ftalk is thick, round, ftriated, and about three feet high: the leaves fiand alternately on it, and are like thofe below, but frnaller; the umbels are large; the flowers tvhite. It is fi·equent on the mouQtains of Germany. C. Bauhine calls it, Daucus mantanus apii folio albicans; J. Bauhine, Ccrvarire nigrre fpecies; Rivinus and Haller, Libanotis pinnulis circa cofi:am dentatis. Many of the botanical writers have alfo defcribed it a fecond time, as a different plant, under the name of Apium petrreum albicans. P E U C E D A N U M. T HE general umbel is multiple, very long and thin; the partial umbel is patent: the general involucrum is fmall, and formed of feverallinear, reflex leaves ; the partial involucrum is fmaller : the proper perianthium is fmall, and quinquedentated; the general corolla is uniform: the fingle flowers confift each of five equal, oblong, crooked, and undivided petals : the ftamina are five capillary filaments; the antherre are fimple: the germen is oblong, and is placed under the proper receptacle : the fiyles are two, and fmall; the ftigmata are obtufe: there is no pericarpium . . The fruit is oval, furrounded with an ala, firiated on both fide s, and feparable into two parts: the feeds are two, of an oval, oblong, compreifed figure on one fide, convex, and marked with three elevated ridges; the edge, furrounded with a membranaceous ala, with the top emarginated. The central flowers are often abortive. 1. P eucedanum foliis quinquies tripartitis lineari-Jubulatis integerrimis. The P eucedanum, with five linearijubulated, not ferrated figments. ~og'.s jfttt::: net. The root is oblong and large, of a blackHh colour on the outfide, greenilli within, and full of a ftrong fmelliog juice; at the top there is generally a tuft of hairy matter, formed of the fibres of dec~yed leaves : the radical leaves ftand on moderately long pedicles; they are large, and divided into a multitude of ,very narrow, fubulated fegments, even at the edges, fmooth, and of a deep green : the ftalk is round, firiated, jointed, and two or three feet high : the leaves fiand fingly on it, and are like the radical ones, but fmaller: the umbels are very large; the flowers fmall and yellowifh. We have it in our fen ditches; I met with it this year in the ille of Ely plentifully. Lobel calls it, Peucedanum ; C. Bauhine, Peucedanum Germanicum. The other fpccies are, I. The ihorter-leaved Peucedanum ; and, 2. The broaderleaved, purple Peucedanum, CRIT HMUM. |