PIMPINELLA, BURNET SAXIFRAGE; a genus of the digynia order, belonging to the pentandria class of plants. There are seven species; the most remarkable of which are, 1. The major, or greater burnet saxifrage, growing naturally in chalky woods, and on the sides of the banks near hedges, in several parts of
England. The lower leaves of this sort are winged; the lobes are deeply sawed on their edges, and sit close to the midrib, of a dark green. The stalks are more than a foot high, dividing into four or five branches. The lower part of the stalk is garnished with winged leaves, shaped like those at the bottom, but smaller: those upon the branches are short and trifid: the branches are terminated by small umbels of white flowers, which are composed of smaller umbels or rays. The flowers have five heart-shaped petals, which turn inward, and are succeeded by two narrow, oblong, channelled seeds. 2. The anisum, or common anise, is an annual plant, which grows naturally in Egypt; but is cultivated in Malta and Spain, from whence the seeds are annually imported into Britain. The lower leaves of this plant are divided into three lobes, which are deeply cut on their edges: the stalk rises a foot and a half high, dividing into several slender branches garnished with narrow leaves, cut into three or four narrow segments, terminated by pretty large loose umbels, composed of smaller umbels or rays, which stand on pretty long foot-stalks. The flowers are small, and of a yellowish white; the seeds are oblong and swelling.—The former species requires no culture; the latter is too tender to be cultivated for profit in this country. However, the seeds will come up if sown, in the beginning of April, upon a warm border. When they come up, they should be thinned, and kept clear of weeds; which is all the culture they require.