THE PAB8LET FAMILY. 



331 



CL— THE PARSLEY FAMILY. UmhelUfercB or Apidcea. 



An extensive and very important family, in many cases notorious 

 for deadly virulence ; in others esteemed for pleasant taste of root or 

 herbage, or for the aromatic and generous flavour of the seeds. The 

 species are universally herbaceous, though some grow to the height of 

 ten or twelve feet, and in England are remarkably alike in structure. 

 Pinnatifid leaves, minutely and repeatedly sub-divided, so as to be 

 popularly confounded with ferns, and compound umbels of numerous 

 small white flowers, are present in all but seven or eight that occur 

 wild. Abroad they are a good deal diversified. Those species which 

 in England are exceptions, become the rule ; while organs which in 

 the native kinds are inconspicuous, are so much enlarged as to become 



Fig. 176. 

 Fruit, unopened. 



Fig. 175. 

 Fruit, opened. 



Fig. 174. Fig. 177. 



Dilated petiole. Flower (Caraway). 



the most striking portion of the plant. In all cases, however, the 

 family is marked beyond possibility of mistake, by the very peculiar 

 condition of the flower and fruit. The former consists of five petals, 

 usually curved inwards at the point, and inserted upon a fleshy 

 disc that surmounts the ovary; five stamens, curved inwards while 

 young, and a two-celled ovary, with two distinct styles. (Figs. 177 

 and 176.) The latter consists of two carpels, separable from an axis 

 common to both, and to which they adhere until ripe, suspended from 

 it in the mode represented in the drawing. (Fig. 175.) The technical 

 name for this kind of fruit is " cremocarp." Whatever the foliage or 

 lihe inflorescence, there is never any deviation in these particulars. 



