THE POLYPETAL.E 



.81 



orgcan which shows the greatest amount of variation in 

 fonii is the friiif, to which close attention should be paid 

 in the examination of any particular species. This varia- 

 tion may be seen by a comparison of figs. 48-51, 54-59. 

 Another great aid to identification is this, that while in 



some members of the order there are small leaves (bracts) 

 at the base of both primary and secondary uajbels (see 

 fig. 47), in -others the bracts are confined to the primary 

 or to the secondary umbels, in still others they are 

 absent from both umbels. A knowledge of these differ- 

 ences considerably facilitates 

 identification in the field of the 

 various Umbellifers. The two 

 carpels of which the pistil is 

 composed separate on fruiting, 

 each being held to the stalk by 

 a thin thread called the carpo- 

 phore (see fig. 48). In the same Ffg. 48. -Fruit of Urnbellifene 



figure are shown the canals filled 



^vith oil (called vittae), which are situated between tlie 



ribs (fig. 48). 



Poison He.mlock (Connim maculatiim), — This is 



perhaps the Umbellifer around which the most interest 



centres. 



very 



^arly times. Hemlock juice probably formed the fatal 

 draught Socrates was compelled to drink, after he had 

 been indicted for "reviling the gods acknowledged by 

 tfie State". Apart from the umbrella-like appearance 

 which distinguishes all the members of the Umbellifene, 

 Hemlock is distinguished specifically by the following 



characteristics: 



>/ 



dull-red colour. 



2. The shapf^ of the fruit (see fig. 49, a and 6). 



3. The glossy dark-green shining appearance of the 



