Spec. Plant. Willd. i. 1428.

Cl. 5. Ord. 2. Pentandria Digynia. Nat. ord. Umbelliferae.

G. 343. Fruit roundish, angular, solid, with reflected styles. Corollas equal. Petals bent inward.

Species 1, Angelica Archangelica. Garden Angelica. Med. Pot. 2d edit. 86. t. 35. Smith, Flor. Prit. 1.311.

Officinal.------Radix, Edin.------Semina, Dub. The root and seeds of Angelica. ... . .

1 It was first cultivated by Gerarde in 1597. 2 Manual of Pharmacy.

Syn. Angelique (F.) Angelikawurzel (G.), Tamme Engelwortel (Belg.), Angelik (Dan.), Angelikerot (Swed.), Dziegel ogrodni (Polish), Djajilnik (Russian), Angelica domestica (I.), Anjelica (S.)

This species of Angelica is a native of the more northern parts of Europe; but although it has been found growing wild ill England, as at Broadmoor near Birmingham, and some other parts, yet it is uncertain whether it be indigenous. It is, however, abundantly cultivated for medicinal and other purposes; flowering in June and August.1 The root is biennial, thick, fleshy, and resinous; the stem erect, hollow, round, smooth, furrowed, of a purplish hue, rising upwards of five feet in height, and sending off many branches, which terminate in globular many-rayed umbels, composed of dense, hemispherical umbellets. The leaves are numerous, petiolated, large, pinnated; with the leaflets ovate, pointed, cleft, and acutely serrated, smooth, somewhat decurrent, and the terminal ones three-lobed: the petioles membranous at the base, nerved, greatly dilated, and bellying. The involucres are deciduous; the involucels short, consisting of five linear lanceolate leaves. The calyx is five-cleft, minute : the corolla small, of a greenish-white colour; petals five, with the points turned inward : the stamens spreading, longer than the petals; and the germen inferior, supporting two reflected styles with obtuse stigmas.

The seeds are large; elliptical, flat on one side, convex on the other, emarginate at both ends, and acutely three-ribbed.

The roots of angelica, when wounded in the spring, yield an odorous yellow juice, which being slowly desiccated, proves an elegant gum-resin, very rich in the qualities of the plant. For medicinal purposes, the roots should be dug up in the autumn of the first year; in which case they are more easily preserved; but when gathered in the spring, they become mouldy, and are preyed on by insects. They should be thoroughly dried, and kept in a well-aired, dry place; and in order to secure their preservation, Lewis suggests "the dipping them in boiling spirit, or exposing them to steam, after they are dried." The leaves and seeds do not retain their virtues when kept. The stems are cut, when tender, in May, and made into an agreeable sweetmeat by the confectioners.2

Qualities.-The odour of every part of the recent plant is fragrant and aromatic; the taste sweetish at first, then aromatic, warm, and slightly bitter. The dried root is corrugated, and of a greyish-brown colour externally; breaks short with a starchy fracture, and presents a firm interior, whitish, with many resinous brown and yellow points. It has the same odour and taste as the recent plant; and yields these qualities to alcohol, and in some degree to boiling water.

It was first described by Joann. Jacob, de Manliis, a writer of the 15th century; and was cultivated in England before 1568.

2 The Icelanders oat the stems and roots of Angelica raw with butter. Vide V George Macken zie's Travels in Iceland, 4to. p. 255.

Medical properties and uses.-The leaves and seeds when recent, and the root both in the fresh and dried state, are tonic and carminative; but although the most elegant aromatic of northern growth, yet they are scarcely ever prescribed in modern practice. The dose in substance is from 3 ss to 3j; which may be given three or four times a day.