APIUM, PARSLEY: A genus of the digynia order, belonging to the pentandria class of plants; and in the natural method ranking under the 45th order, Umbellatae. The fruit is of an oval shape, and streaked; the involucre consists of one leaf; and the petals are infected. There are only two species of apium; the petroselinum, or common parsley, a native of Sardinia; and the graveolens, or snailage, a native of Britain: the culture of both which are well known.
Medicinal Uses, &c. The roots and seeds of the petroselinum are used in medicine. The root of parsley is one of the five aperient roots, and in this intention is sometimes made an ingredient in apozems and diet-drinks: if liberally used, it is apt to occasion flatulencies; and thus, by distending the viscera, produces a contrary effect to that intended by it: the taste of this root is somewhat sweetish, with a light degree of warmth and aromatic flavour. The seeds are an ingredient in the electuary of bay-berries.—The roots of smallage are also in the number of aperient roots, and have been sometimes prescribed as an ingredient in aperient apozems and diet-drinks, but are at present disregarded. The seeds of the plant are moderately aromatic, and were formerly used as carminatives; in which intention they are, doubtless, capable of doing service, though the other warm feeds, which the shops are furnished with, render these unnecessary; and accordingly the Edinburgh college, which retains the roots, has expunged the seeds.
Besides its medicinal virtues above mentioned, the common parsley is reckoned an effectual cure for the rot in sheep, provided they are fed with it twice a-week for two or three hours each time: but hares and rabbits are so fond of this herb, that they will come from a great distance to feed upon it; and in the countries where these animals abound, they will de-
stroy it if not very securely fenced against them; so that whoever has a mind to have plenty of hares in their fields, may draw them from all parts of the country by cultivating parsley.