CALTCIPLOR^. 561 



separate and become pendulous; each carpel an indehiscent 1- 

 seeded body, traversed on its dorsal surface by ridges, of which 

 5 are primary, and sometimes 4 others, alternating with them, 

 secondary; the spaces between the ridges are called channels 

 (valleculcE), in which are sometimes linear oily receptacles called 

 vittce (Jig. 136). 5'eei/ pendulous (Jig. 940); embryo minute, at 

 the base of abundant horny albumen (^^. 940); rat/icZe pointing 

 towards the hilum. 



Diagnosis. — Herbs or shrubs. Leaves alternate, usually com- 

 pound and sheathing at the base, or sometimes simple, exstipulate. 

 Flowers almost always arranged in a more or less umbellate 

 manner. Calyx superior. Petals and stamens 5, inserted on the 

 outside of a double fleshy disk which crowns the ovary. Ovary 

 inferior, 2-celled, with a solitary pendulous ovule in each cell; 

 styles 2. Fruit consisting of two indeliiscent carpels, which 

 separate when ripe from a common axis or carpophore. Seeds 

 pendulous, one in each carpel, with a minute embryo at the 

 base of abundant horny albumen. 



Division of the Order, Sfc. — The order has been divided into 

 three sections or sub-orders, from the appearance of the albumen, 

 but they are by no means well defined. They are as follows: — 



Sub-order 1. Orthospermece. — Albumen flat on its face. Ex- 

 amples : — Hydrocotyle, Bolax, Sanicula, Horsfieldia, Cicuta, 

 Petroselinum, CEnanthe, Foeniculum, Pachypleurum, Levis- 

 ticum, Opoponax, Heracleum, Galbanum, Cuminum, Thapsia, 

 Caucus. 



Sub-order 2. Campylospermece. — Albumen rolled inwards at 

 the edges, and presenting a vertical furrow on its face. Ex- 

 amples : — Margotia, Torilis, Anthriscus, Chaerophyllum, 

 Conium, Prangos, Opoidia. 



Sub-order 3. Coelospermece. — Albumen with the base and apex 

 curved inwards on its face. Examples : — Ormosciadium, 

 Atrema, Coriandrum. 



Distribution, Sfc. — Chiefly natives of the northern parts of 

 Europe, Asia, and America. Many occur, however, in the 

 southern hemisphere. They are rare in tropical regions except 

 upon the mountains, where they are by no means unconmion. 

 There are about 288 genera, and 1550 species. 



Properties and Uses. — Extremely variable; thus, some are 

 edible; others are aromatic and carminative, and, in some cases, 

 stimulant and tonic, from the presence of a volatile oil ; others 

 contain a narcotico-acrid juice, which renders them more or less 

 poisonous; while others again are antispasmodic and stimulant 

 from the presence of a foetid gum-resin, which is essentially 

 composed of gum, resin and volatile oil. This oil in the case of 

 Assafoetida, and probably in some of the others, contains sulphur, 

 o o 



