NOTES ON THE FAMILY UMBELLIFERAE 99
CARUM PETROSELINUM—now PETROSELINUM
CRISPUM and formerly P. sativum, P. petros, P. hortense
and Apium Petroselinum. The word "Petroselinum" is
said to be derived from the Greek, meaning a rock or stone.
The name has become preserved with that of St. Peter.
There has always been a great superstition with regard to
parsley, and various authors have subscribed different
reasons. It has ever been the assigned plant of Hades, and
in ancient times was dedicated to Persephone, the Goddess
or Queen of the Dead, and it has been presumed that she
was identical with Selene; this may give a clue to the modern
name of Petroselinum. In the early days of the Christian
religion it was thought expedient to embrace objects of
reverential regard, from the pagan divinities to the Christian
saints, to help overcome the prejudices of the early converts.
Parsley thus dedicated to the funeral rites by the Greeks
was afterwards consecrated to St. Peter as successor to
Chara, door-keeper of the gate to Paradise. I have not been
able to discover the reason why one is prevented by super-
stitious rites in moving the plant from one place to another
in the garden, but is allowed to dig it up and throw it away
without provoking the wrath of the Gods. I must confess,
however, that I have never taken upon myself the con-
sequences of moving it.
Parsley was introduced into England from Sardinia in
1548, but its origin goes back much earlier. The plant was
a well-known culinary herb in Greek and Roman times, and
it formed part of the garlands for their festivities. The
Romans ate it at their feasts in the belief that its grateful
smell absorbed the inebriating fumes of wine.
AEGOPODIUM PODAGRARIA. Known as Gout-weed,
Bishop's-weed and Herb Gerard. The specific name means
"gout in the feet", for which the plant was once used, and
this perhaps explains why it is frequently found in or near
old gardens. It is a very troublesome weed, and to quote
Gerard, "It groweth of itselfe in gardens without setting"
or soweing and is so fruitfull in its increase that whence it
has taken roote it will hardly be gotten out againe, spoiling
and getting every yere more ground to the annoying of better
herbes". Linnaeus tells us that the leaves are boiled and
eaten like greens in Sweden. Bishop's-weed suggests that