160 



BECEEATIVE SCIENCE. 



and even apple pips, contain it in abundance. 

 True Eosaceans, however, are less given to 

 tkis manufacture, and offer us astringency 

 in its place. 



Group No. 3, in our hand, greets us with 

 the very different aspect of the hemlock tribe 

 (Fig. 30). We find, pn examination, the bond 

 of union in the attachment of the petals 

 and stamens, but almost all else is different. 

 First, there is the great distinctive feature 

 which gives the family name of umbel- 

 bearers to this large section of the vegetable 

 kingdom ; an umbel being that peculiar dis- 

 position of the flowers which we see in Fig. 30, 

 and which we find in all plants belonging to 

 the order. Observe how the flower-stems all 

 spring from one central point. You will 

 seldom gather these hemlock-like plants with 

 flowers otherwise than white, though some 

 have a pinkish tinge, and one or two are 

 yellow ; moreover, we have compound leaves 

 again (Fig 36), but compound after a dif- 



Fis. 36. — Compound Leaf of Umbelliferous Plant. 

 a, sheath for stem. 



ferent mode from the leaves of the vetch, oc 

 of the rose ; the leaf, too, sheaths the stem rib 

 its base, and the stem is more or less hollovr. 

 Look to these things, for they are part of 

 your lesson, and then let us see to the 



blossoms themselves. Here, perhaps, you do 

 not see matters quite so plainly as you did in 

 the large-blossom plants we have hitherto 

 examined ; a little more patience is required, 

 and the magnifying glass will aid you. Do 

 not forget we are still among the distinct 

 petal flowers. Five little petals have these 

 umbellifers, placed on the top of what you 

 will recognize as the seed — seed-vessel it is 

 indeed (Fig. 37) — and with a calyx, more or 

 less minute, adhering closely to the latter. On 

 the summit of this little double seed, you will 

 more easily make out the double styles, and 

 the five stamens will not tax your patience 

 much. Probably, before your examination 

 has proceeded thus far, you will have made 

 the discovery that the petals of this tribe of 

 plants are by no means equal in size, and, if 

 you have examined closely, that they have 

 frequently a peculiar turning in — inflection — 



,,<r 



Fig. 37. — A, Blossom of Umbelliferous Plant: a, petal, 

 with inflected point ; 6, stamen ; c, pistil with 

 double style. B, Fruit of Umbelliferous Plant : a, 

 styles ; 6, stamen ; c, a fleshy disk ; d, double 

 fruit. C, Eipe Seeds or Carpels separating from 

 central axis. D, Section of Seeds : a, ribs ; b, oil- 

 channels, or vittiB. 



at the top (Fig. 37). We could say much 

 respecting the seeds (Fig. 37) of this exten- 

 sive plant family, but that we reserve for the 

 fruit department; only, if you have oppor- 

 tunity, glance at them now when somewhat 



