Part 28

*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.