spignel; a genus of the dianthus order, belonging to the pentandra class of plants. Of this genus Linnaeus enumerates nine species; but none of them merit particular notice except the cretensis, otherwise called daucus creticus. This is an umbelliferous plant growing wild in the Levant and the warmer parts of Europe. The leaves are irregularly disposed, and formed like those of fennel. The flower-stalk rises about two feet high, sending out many branches, terminated at the top by compound umbels, composed of near 20 small ones. These have white flowers with five petals, which are succeeded by oblong, hairy, channelled fruit, divided into two parts, containing one oblong hairy seed. The seeds have a warm biting taste, with an agreeable aromatic smell. They are kept in the shops as a medicine, are carminative, and said to be diuretic; but are little used in practice. The plant may be propagated from seeds, which should be sown on an open bed of light dry ground; the following autumn the plants should be taken up, and planted at about a foot distance in a bed of light sandy earth, where the roots will continue several years.