ARALIACE5;. 



164 



24. ERIGENI'A. 

 Involucre a single, bipinnatifid bract; involucel of 3 — 6 

 entire bracts; fruit contracted at the commissure; carpels 

 3-ribbed, ovate-reniform. Root tuberous. Leaf solitary, 

 radical. 



Gr. vjPiyivna,, daughter of the early spring; in reference to the early 

 flowering of these plants, which occurs in March and April. 



E. BULBO'SA. JVm«. Hydrocotyle composita. P. 



A small early-flowering perennial herb, along the shady banks of streams, 

 western N. Y. to the Mississippi. Stem an inch or two high, with 2 leaves. 

 The lower one radical, biternately divided, the divisions incisely cleft into 

 narrow segments ; the upper one a bract, similarly divided, supporting the 

 few-rayed umbel of white flowers. 



25. CORIA'NDRUM. 

 Fruit a single or double globe, smooth, without ribs; calyx 

 broad, unequal; petals radiant; floral receptacle none. 



Gr. JcogtS, a bug; on account of the smell of the leaves. 



C. SATI'VUM. 



Fnt/i: globose ; caZyz and s^y/es permanent. Native in Europe, &c. This 

 well known plant is cultivated chiotly for the seeds, which are used as a spice, 

 as a nucleus for sugar-plums, &c. Stem 2 feet high. Leaves numerously divi- 

 ded stroncr-scented. Umbels with only the partial involucra. Flowers white. 

 July. Aimual. ^ Coriander. 



ORDER LXIX. ARALIACE^. 



Cat. — Superior, entire or toothed. 



Cor.— Petiils .O— 10, tleciiiuous, rarely 0, valvate in scstivation. 



fSta — Eiiual in number to the petals and alternate with them. Anth. introrse. 



Ora.— Crowned with a disk, 2 or many-celled. Ovnle.s solitarj-. Styles as many as cells. 



jTr .—Baccate or drupaceous, of several one-seeded cells. 



A small order nearly allied to Umbellilera;, from which it is distinguished chiefly by the 

 several-celled ovary and fleshy fruit. Thev are natives of Northern temperate climes ol 

 both Heraispheres.-^Several species are well known in medicine, &c. as srinscnfr, spike- 

 nard, sarsaparilia, &c. The laiter is sometimes substituted lor the sarsapanlla of the shops. 



Conspectus of the Genera. 



( Flowers perfect. ..... Malta. 1 



Leaves compound, j Flowers polygamous. .... Panaic. I 



1. A R A' LI A. 

 Flowers umbelled, involucre very small; calyx very small, 

 superior, 5toothed; corolla 5-petaled ; berry crowned with 

 the remains of the calyx, 5-seeded. 



Name of unknown origin. Umbels simple, globose. Fet ovate, oblong, 

 spreading or reflexed. Stig. nearly round, varying in number from 5 to 10. 

 Seeds hard, oblong. 



