Found in moist rich grounds, often on the edge of shade, in blossom in June. The stalk grows very tall, sometimes 7 or 8 feet high; it is large, round, and grooved--though not deeply so; it is hollow, with a strong parsnip smell; and grass-green in color. The leaf is compound, in three divisions, and large, the lower leaves being sometimes a foot or more in length; each leaflet is more or less deeply lobed, and sharply notched on the edge, and set on a short foot-stem; the ribs are large, the upper surface almost smooth, while the lower surface is soft and woolly; coarse in texture, and of a strong dark green color. The main foot-stem of the leaf, widens into a leafy membrane that partly clasps the stalk. The few large leaves are alternate. The flower is small, and 5-petalled, the petals heart-shaped, or deeply notched; the outer flowers are larger than the inner ones, and their petals are quite unequal in size. In color white. They grow in wide spreading, flat-topped clusters, sometimes 10 or 12 inches across. On close approach the Cow Parsnip appears coarse in general make-up; seen from a distance however it looks a plant of splendid swing and unbounded vigor, a veritable Hercules of the fields! [Illustration: COW PARSNIP: Heracleum lanatum--⅓ life size.] *Water Pennywort.* _Hydrocotyle Americana._ A close observation will show that this may be found in blossom in July, on moist, shady ground. The weak-fibred, smooth, pale green stalk creeps over the ground, and takes root, occasionally, at the joints. It has a pretty, round, heart-shaped leaf, doubly scalloped on the edge, and of a thin texture, with a smooth, shining surface; of a pale green color. The leaves are alternate, on foot-stems about an inch long. The minute white flowers are set close in the angles of the leaves and are hardly noticeable. The Pennywort grows gracefully amongst the grass in moist places. One would hardly suspect, at a casual glance, that this weak-fibred vine could belong to the same family with the mighty Cow Parsnip. [Illustration: WATER PENNYWORT: Hydrocotyle Americana.] *Field Parsnip.* _Pastinaca sativa._ Found in roadside thickets, along meadow walls and fences, during July and August. The large, widely branching stalk reaches the height of 4 or 5 feet; it is 4-, or occasionally 5-angled, very tough and woody-fibred, noticeably grooved, and its surface is coarse; dull green.