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Wild flowers of the north-eastern states

Chapter 29: PARSLEY FAMILY. UMBELLIFERÆ.
By Ellen Miller
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Nature/Gardening/Animals

About This Book

This illustrated manual gathers 308 common wildflowers of the northeastern United States, each drawn life-size and accompanied by plain-language descriptions emphasizing habit, color, and growth rather than technical dissection. Organized by floral families in the sequence of Gray's Manual and arranged for seasonal bloom, entries include leaves, stems, and often whole growth, with occasional shrubs, vines, and fruit shown where notable. Aimed at amateur naturalists, it favors recognizable traits and folk names to ease identification, offers practical notes on variations and habitat, and pairs accurate botanical classification with accessible, pictorial presentation.

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!