heracleum

[Lat. Heracleus; Gr. Hera kleios of or belonging to Hercules, who is said to have brought the plant into use.] Bot.: Cow-parsnip, Hogweed, a genus of umbelliferous plants, family Peucedanide. It consists of large biennial or perennial herbs, having leaves with one to three pinne; compound many-edged umbels, with few, many, or no bracts; and orbicular, obovate, or oblong compre ed fruit. Fifty species are known. Itis found in North Africa and North Asia. In the last-named place its root is skinned and eaten. H. gummiferum yields a gum resin. her'-ald, *har-aulde, *her-aude, *her-aulde, 8. [0. French heralt , heraut ; Low Lat. herald us ; from O. H. Ger. herolt a herald (Ger. herold); from hari (Ger. heer )=an army, and wald , walt = strength; Ital. araldo .] IMG:content-1125.png:[blocks in formation] ch. ii. *4. An heraldic emblazonment; a coat of arms. "And in the midst, 'mongst you sand heraldries . A shielded scutcheon blushed with blood of queens and kings." Keats: Eve of St. Agnes , xxiv. her-ald-ship, s . [Eng. herald; -ship.] The office of a herald; heraldry. "His office of heraldship ."-Drayton: Polyolbion, § 3. (Selden's Illust.)