Ill 1 UMBELLIFERAi. at^ 



t!ovver is said to pass into a blue when the soil in which it is 

 raised contains oxide of iron. 



Several species of the typical genus Saxifraga grow at 

 great elevations in the Himalaya; others are at home in 

 Arctic regions. 



Note the Sundews {Drosera), regarded as a Tribe of this 

 Family : low, glandular-viscid herbs, usually growing in 

 boggy situations. Some species exhibit a low sensibility or 

 «rritability in the leaves, which curl upon particles placed 

 on their glandular hairs. Is this the case with Indian 

 species? And do they appear to discriminate between 

 organic and inorganic matter offered to them? 



The Venus' Fly-trap (Dioncea) of the South United States 

 affords one of the most remarkable instances of irritability 

 in the vegetable kingdom. The leaves close instantaneously 

 when a fly touches one of three irritable hairs placed upon 

 each lobe of the leaf. 



48. Natural Order, Umhelliferce. — The Umbellate Family. 



Herbs with hollow stems and sheathing, often dissected, 

 leaves, and small umbellate flowers. Petals and stamens 

 five, epigynous. Carpels two, dry when ripe. 



Type — either cultivated Fennel {Fceniculum) ; or 

 Dill {A7iethum) ; or 

 Carrot {Daucus) ; or 

 Coriander {Coriandrwn). 



Herbaceous plants, with erect, hollow stems, alternate, 

 sheathing, much divided leaves, and small flowers in ter- 

 minal compound umbels. 



