API UM, in botany, a genus of plants, including parsley, smallage, and celery. Class, Pentandria Digynia ; natural order of Umbellate. Essen. character, cal. gene ral umbel of fewer rays than those of the partial; cor. general uniform ; floscules almost all fertile; petals roundish, inflex, equal; stain. filaments simple ; anthers, roundish ; gist. germ inferior ; seeds two, ovate, striated on one side, plane on the other. A. petrosilinum, or common pars ley ; both the varieties are in use ; hut it is remarked that the plane-leaved sort is most commonly cultivated, though many prefer the curled kind, because its leaves are most easily distinguished from the zethusa, or fool's parsley, a sort of hem lock, and a poisonous garden weed, which, while young, has great resemblance to the common plane-leaved parsley. Besides, the curled parsley, from its having larger and thicker leaves, and being curiously fimbriated and curled, so as to chew full and dowble, makes a better appearance in its growth, and is more esteemed by cooks fur the purpose of garnishing dishes, Cc. It may, however, be necessary to remark, that this sort, as being only a variety, is liable to degenerate to the common plane sort, unless particular care be taken to save the seed always 'from the perfect, full curled plants. Both the varieties arc Propagated by seed :own :mnually in spring, where the plants arc to remain ; but the plants are biennials, rising from seed sown in March, April, May, and June. A. latifolium, or broad-leafed pars ley. The propagation of this species is also by seed sown annually in Fdbruary, March, April, or May, where the plants EEC to remain. For this purpose, a spot
of light rich earth, in an open exposure, is to he preferred ; the seed being sown broadcast, and raked in, the plants gene rally appearing in about a month after being sown, and in May or June they re quire to he thinned and cleared from weeds, which may be performed either by hand or hoe ; but the latter is most eligi ble, as it will stir and loosen the surface of the earth, which may be beneficial to the plants, cutting them out to about six inches distance from each other. In the latter end of July, the roots will mostly have attained a size proper for use, and may he drawn occasionally; but they sel dom acquire their full growth till about Michaelmas. This is sometimes called Hambnrgh parsley, probable from its be ing much cultivated about that place. It is chiefly cultivated and esteemed for its large roots, which are white, and carrot shaped, being long, taper, and of down right growth, often attaining the size and appearance of small or middling parsnips; they boil exceedingly tender and palata ble, are very wholesome, and may be used in soup or broth, or to eat like carrots and parsnips, or as sauce to flesh meat. A. (Mee, or the common relery. The me thod of propagation in all the varieties of this sort, is by sowing the seed in the spring, and when the plants have attained six or eight inches in height, transplanting them into trenches, in order to be earthed up on each side as they advance in growth, and have their stalks blanched or whiten ed, to render them crisp and tender: