Botanizing Conantum

August 30. 

Sunday. P. M. – To Conantum. 

Small botrychium, not long. 

The flower of Cicuta maculata smells like the leaves of the golden senecio. 

Collinsonia has been out apparently three or four days. 

Polygonum tenue at Bittern Cliff, how long?

H. D. Thoreau, Journal, August 30, 1857


The flower of Cicuta maculata smells like the leaves of the golden senecio. See June 6, 1851 ("Gathered to-night the Cicuta maculata, American hemlock, the veins of the leaflets ending in the notches and the root fasciculated.");  October 2, 1859 ("The Cicuta maculata, for instance, the concave umbel is so well spaced, the different um-bellets (?) like so many constellations or separate systems in the firmament.") See also June 3, 1851 ("It was the golden senecio (Senecio aureus) which I plucked a week ago in a meadow in Wayland. . . . Its bruised stems enchanted me with their indescribable sweet odor, like I cannot think what.")

Collinsonia has been out . . .See August 11, 1852 ("The Collinsonia Canadensis just begun.");  August 23, 1857 ("To Conantum. . . .Collinsonia (very little left) not out")

Polygonum tenue at Bittern Cliff . . . See August 24, 1856 ("Polygonum tenue abundant and in bloom, on side of Money-Diggers' Hill, especially at south base, near apple tree. "); August 3, 1856 ("At Bittern Cliff again lucky enough to find Polygonum tenue, apparently out but a short time, say one week at most. Have marked the spot . . .")