UMBELLIFERjE 



79 



Order XXXVII. Umbelliferce (41 genera) 



The UmbellifercB are a very numerous Order 

 of plants. They are generally perennials, the 

 root-stock throwing up fresh shoots every year in 

 place of those which died off the year before. 

 The stem is hollow and ridged, and the leaves 

 are generally compound and much divided. The 

 flowers grow in a large cluster at the ends of 

 slender branching stalks (umbels), like the ribs of 

 an umbrella, whence the name of the Order. The 

 flowers are generally small, and very similar ; most 

 frequently white, but sometimes yellow or red. 

 The seeds are contained in doubleridged carpels 

 (one in each carpel), and frequently contain an 

 aromatic oil. Many species are of considerable 

 economic value ; others are poisonous. 



Hare's Ear — Bnpleurum rotundifolium 



(Plate XLIII) 



This curious plant grows as a weed among corn 

 on a calcareous soil in many places in England, and 



flowers from June to August. It has an erect, 

 smooth, round branching stem, about a foot high, 

 which is surrounded by alternate leaves, which are 

 traversed at the base by the stalk and branches. 

 The leaves are succulent, oval, entire, of a bluish 

 green colour, and terminate in an obtuse point. 

 The flower-clusters consist of only 4 or 5 umbels, 

 with a common involucre ; the partial involucres 

 consist of about 5 long pointed bracts, which 

 extend beyond the small yellow flowers. 



This plant is sometimes called Throw-wax or 

 Thorough-wax, probably from the curious simi- 

 larity of its flowers to yellow wax. 



Coriander — Conundrum sativum 



(Plate XLIV) 



This is an introduced plant in Britain, and is 

 an annual. The stem grows to more than a foot 

 in height, and is erect, ridged, smooth, and bifur- 

 cating ; the leaves are smooth, and those on the 

 lower part of the stem are pinnate, oval and 



