Parsley Family. — Umbelliferæ
Sweet Cicely. Osmorrhiza longistylis.
Found northward, in rich, moist woods, blossoming in May and June.
The round, smooth stalk bears leaves at long intervals, and is in color green, running into dull purple. It is 1 to 3 feet in height.
The large compound leaf is 3 times divided, and has the general aspect of a fern leaf; the taper-pointed leaflets have strongly notched margins, and noticeable ribs; the texture is thin, and the color green.
The small flower has 5 somewhat unequal, heart-shaped, white petals, 5 stamens, and a long calyx.
The anise-like flavor of the large root renders it attractive to the palate of the herb-browser. The long seeds are armed with backward pointing prickles, and snatch rides on the wayfarer’s garments after the manner of the plebeian Beggar-ticks. Cicely is sweet, tall, and graceful in gesture, fine in the finish of its leaf joints, and distinguished by a few fern-like leaves; apparently a plant of good breeding. Where could its seeds have learned such a beggarly trick!
Meadow Parsnip. Zizia aurea.
Found in meadow grass lands, in May and June.
The sparingly branched stalk, from 2 to 3 feet high, is tough-fibred, and smooth, though channeled with many fine grooves; it is hollow, with an aromatic smell, and usually tends to a dull red color.
The 2- or 3-times divided leaf has narrow leaflets, tapering to the tip, and sharply toothed on the edge; the surface is smooth, and the texture firm; the color a strong, full-toned green. The leaves are few, at long intervals, on short foot-stems that widen into a leafly membrane, partly clasping the main stalk.
The minute yellow flower has 5 petals, turned in toward the center; the stamens and pistil are small, and the calyx is of a pale yellow-green color; the flowers grow in flat-topped clusters, from 2 to 3 inches broad, or larger.
In the hand, the Meadow Parsnip seems a little coarse in color and texture, but its aspect is pleasing when seen lifting its bright yellow green-ribbed parasols above the meadow grass.
| Sanicle. | Sanicula Marylandica. |
| Black Snake-root. |
Found in woods, and light shrubbery, in June.
The simple, sparingly branched stalk grows from 2 to 3 feet high, and is round, smooth, slightly grooved, and hollow; it is green in color.
The leaf is deeply cut, or divided, from the base, (“palmate”) into from 3 to 6 long-pointed divisions, sharply notched on the edge; in color rather dark green. The leaves clasp the stalk by a very short, leafy sheath, and appear clustered at the top, and alternate below, while the root-leaves are on long stems.
The small, greenish-yellow flower has 5 petals with the tips turned inward and tucked down into the center of the flower; under the petals are concealed the stamens (which emerge at length, however). The flowers are on very short foot-stems arranged in hemispherical heads, three or four heads usually in a cluster, on the end of the stem. Two kinds, stamen-bearing and pistil-bearing, are found in the same head; the former dry up brown, while the latter develop burs armed with little hooked spines.
Though the flower is not conspicuous in color, the plant claims notice for its rather graceful, swaying gesture.
Cow Parsnip. Heracleum lanatum.
Found in moist rich grounds, often on the edge of shade, in blossom in June.
The stalk grows very tall, sometimes 7 or 8 feet high; it is large, round, and grooved—though not deeply so; it is hollow, with a strong parsnip smell; and grass-green in color.
The leaf is compound, in three divisions, and large, the lower leaves being sometimes a foot or more in length; each leaflet is more or less deeply lobed, and sharply notched on the edge, and set on a short foot-stem; the ribs are large, the upper surface almost smooth, while the lower surface is soft and woolly; coarse in texture, and of a strong dark green color. The main foot-stem of the leaf, widens into a leafy membrane that partly clasps the stalk. The few large leaves are alternate.
The flower is small, and 5-petalled, the petals heart-shaped, or deeply notched; the outer flowers are larger than the inner ones, and their petals are quite unequal in size. In color white. They grow in wide spreading, flat-topped clusters, sometimes 10 or 12 inches across.
On close approach the Cow Parsnip appears coarse in general make-up; seen from a distance however it looks a plant of splendid swing and unbounded vigor, a veritable Hercules of the fields!
Water Pennywort. Hydrocotyle Americana.
A close observation will show that this may be found in blossom in July, on moist, shady ground.
The weak-fibred, smooth, pale green stalk creeps over the ground, and takes root, occasionally, at the joints.
It has a pretty, round, heart-shaped leaf, doubly scalloped on the edge, and of a thin texture, with a smooth, shining surface; of a pale green color. The leaves are alternate, on foot-stems about an inch long.
The minute white flowers are set close in the angles of the leaves and are hardly noticeable.
The Pennywort grows gracefully amongst the grass in moist places. One would hardly suspect, at a casual glance, that this weak-fibred vine could belong to the same family with the mighty Cow Parsnip.
Field Parsnip. Pastinaca sativa.
Found in roadside thickets, along meadow walls and fences, during July and August.
The large, widely branching stalk reaches the height of 4 or 5 feet; it is 4-, or occasionally 5-angled, very tough and woody-fibred, noticeably grooved, and its surface is coarse; dull green.
The compound irregular leaf is large: the root-leaves are cut into 7 to 11 divisions, each part again cleft into 3 or 5 parts,—the upper leaves are less compound; the leaflets are long oval, broadest at the base, the margins closely notched, the texture thin, but coarse, the surface smooth, the underside of the upper leaves shining. The color is a dull dark green. The root-leaves are on long stems, while the upper leaves are on shorter stems which clasp the stalk with wing-like membranes; these are grooved, and large, their edges roll together, and meet and lap about the stalk. The leaves are placed alternately, at considerable intervals apart.
The tiny flowers are yellow, they spread flat, to show the undeveloped seed-boxes, and are set on thread foot-stems in small, flat-topped, round clusters; these, on long, up-curving stems, form a large spreading cluster, upon a stout stem; they are terminal and from the angles of the leaves; several of these large clusters occur on a plant.
“’Twill raise a blister, if you touch it when the dew’s on’t!” says the farmer’s son. It has a strongly acrid odor when broken, a thing which is well-nigh impossible to accomplish. The seeds, shining and very flat discs, add to the decorative qualities of this conspicuous plant.
| Wild Carrot. | Daucus Carota. |
| Queen Ann’s Lace. |
Very common by the wayside and in dry fields, blossoming from July through September.
The round stalk, from 2 to 3 feet high, coarse in fibre, and roughened by short hairs, is light yellow-green in color.
The leaf has a very fringy effect, being much cut up into long narrow lobes; the surface is roughened; and the short foot-stem widens into a leafy, clasping sheath. The yellowish-green, alternate leaves are few, and far between.
The petal-like parts of the small clustered flowers are unequal in size and number,—three or four of the outer flowers in each cluster are larger than the rest; the color is white, with tiny yellow-tipped stamens. The flowers have pale green foot-stems, and grow in flat-topped clusters, each cluster being set around at the foot with a green leafy fringe. In the center of the cluster is often found a single dark purple flower.
Though the growth is sprangly, and the stem coarse, yet the flower is delicate with a lace-like quality. The seed-stems, curling inward, form a hollow, nest-like cup, from which characteristic it is often called the “Bird’s-nest plant.” It is deemed a great pest by farmers.