THE PAESLEY FAMILY. 



333 



the smaller divisions of the inflorescence being called " umbellules." 

 At the base of the rays or peduncles there are often several bracts, 

 collectively called the " involucnim." The number and size of these 

 bracts vary considerably in difierent species : sometimes they are 

 confined to the umbel ; sometimes they are repeated under the umbel- 

 liile, in which case they are called the "involucel," and sometimes 

 they are absent from both. The white, or yellowish, or pinkish petals 

 are unequd in size, forming a small irregular star of five rays, which 

 is flattish or somewhat concave. The individuals generally grow in 

 large comDanies. Instead of solitary specimens, where there is one 

 plant, there are usually a thousand not far ofi". Few can be said to 

 have much claim to floral beauty, and many are dull weeds. 



The properties of the family are of three principal and remarkably 

 difierent kinds. In one section, a watery and acrid matter is present ; 

 in a second, a milky and gum-resinous secretion ; and in a third, an 



Fig. 179. 

 Marsh Pennywort. 



aromatic and oily one. When the first of these predominates, they 

 are poisons ; the second in excess converts them into stimulants ; the 

 third renders them carminative and pleasant condiments. If both the 

 acrid and the gum-resinous secretion be absent, they are often useful 

 articles of food, as happens with the roots of the carrot and the parsnip. 

 Among the poisons, hemlock or Conium holds the first place ; after 

 this comt the fools' -parsley, the cowbane, and the di'op-worts, 

 aU of them exceedingly dangerous. The species that yield gum- 

 resinous matters are the asafcctida plant, the opoponax, tae ammo- 

 niacum, a) id several others, well known to druggists and students of 

 Materia Medica ; while to those noted for their carminative properties, 

 we owe caraways, coriander, and cummin. 



The northern parts of the northern hemisphere are the chief seats 

 of this remarkable family. In tropical countries it is nearly unknown, 



