LXVIIl. UMBELLIFERZ, 283 
desolations of autumn and winter, this alone puts forth its yellow blossoms. 
The small branches were formerly used for “ divining rods,” to indicate the 
presence of the precious metals and of deep springs of water, and there are even 
at this day, persons who deem a denial of these virtues to the witch hazel, an 
offence little short of heresy. 
Orper LXVIL UMBELLIFER A.—Unsexurers. 
St. herbaceous, hollow, furrowed. 
Lvs. usually divided, simple or compound, with sheathing petioles. ‘ 
Fis. arranged in umbels, mostly white, often yellow, pink, blue, or greenish. 
Cal. adhering to the ovary, entire or 5-toothed. cps _ 
Cor.—Petals 5, usually inflected at the point, imbricate in estivation. 
Sta. 5, alternate with the petals and inserted with them upon the disk. 
Ova. inferior, 2-celled, surmounted by the fleshy disk which bears the stamens and petals. 
Szy. 2, distinct, or united at their thickened bases. Stig. simple. : 
dry, consisting of 2 coherent carpels, separating from each other by their faces (commissure) into two 
alves (merocarps). | . 
Carpophore,—the slender, simple, or forked axis by which the carpels are borne, cohering to it by the 
faces of the commissure. 4 : d 
Ribs.—A definite number of ridges traversing the carpels, the larger ones (primary) alternating with the 
smaller (secondary). Ory A : ; 
Vitte.—Little linear receptacles of colored volatile oil, imbedded in the substance of the pericarp, just 
beneath the intervals of the ribs and the commissure. 
_ Genera 267, species 1500,—This is a vast and well defined natural order, native of damp places, way- 
pei groves, &c., in the cool parts of the world. Very few are found in tropical countries except upon 
the mountains. 
Properties aromatic, stimulant and carminative, depending upon a volatile oil residing in the vitte of 
the fruit, in the roots, &c. The herbage is frequently pervaded by an acrid, narcotic principle, rendering 
it very poisonous. Of this nature is the Conium maculatum (hemlock), Cicuta virosa, thusa Cynapium 
(fools parsley), besides many others which have, at least, a suspicious character. But the fruit is never 
poisonous, and is usually stimulant and aromatic, as caraway, anise, dill, coriander, &c. Even the roots 
and herbage of other species are wholesome and nutritive, as the carrot, parsnep,sweet cisely, celery 
and Archangelica. The gum-resin, assaf@tida, exudes from incisions in the Ferula of Persia; the swim 
galbanum is the product of Galbanum officinale, an Indian-species. 
The genera of the Umbellifere are numerous, and not easily distinguished. The characters by which 
De Candolle has more successfully than any other author divided this order into tribes and genera, are 
chiefly founded upan the number and development of the.ribs, the presence or absence of the vitt@, and 
the form of the albumen, particularly at the commissure. These parts, therefore, minute as they are, will 
require the special attention of the student. 
i AS NSS 
FIG. 46.—1. Zizia aurea, with its compound, naked umbel, &c. 2. A flowerenlarged. 3. The fruit 
with its filiform ribs and two persistent styles. 4. Cross section, showing the two carpels with the vitus 
and flat commissure. 5. Umbel of Osmorhiza longistylis in fruit. 6. A flower enlarged. 7. The fruit 
with the merocarps separating from the base and supported by the bifid carpophore. 8, Surmit of the 
fruit of O. brevistylis. 9. Fruit of Conium maculatum, with the undulate-crenulate ribs. 10. Cross sec- 
tion, showing the grooved commissure and involute albumen. 11. Radiant flower of Coriandrum. 
12. Vertical section of the globose fruit, showing the minute embryo. 
