THE PARSLEY ORDER 371 
ing exception is found in the carrot (Daucus) where there is 
often a central flower destitute of essential organs. Such 
a flower is described as neutral. 
The sepals are commonly reduced to small tooth-like 
projections, or they may be so united into a narrow ring as 
to appear obliterated. The calyx-teeth do not touch in the 
bud; hence their estivation is said to be open.2 More or 
less irregularity of calyx and corolla occurs among the 
outer flowers of an umbel, though most of the flowers are 
but little if at all irregular. 
The two-carpelled, inferior ovary ripens into a dry fruit 
which at maturity splits in halves, each half hanging from 
the top of a continuation of the torus, as shown in Fig. 141 II. 
Such a fruit is called a cremocarp.’ It is like a schizocarp 
except that it is the product of an inferior ovary. _Each half 
has several more or less pronounced ribs; and, in the wall, 
parallel to the ribs, are often tubular reservoirs of volatile 
oil giving a characteristic odor to the fruit. 
An odor similar to that of the fruit often pervades every 
part so that from an immature specimen or only a fragment ~ 
it is often possible to recognize these plants by their peculiar, 
though indescribable, smell. 
The stems have the rare characteristic of being hollow 
even at the nodes. 
Herbs rich in volatile oil, but with watery sap; having leaves 
exstipulate; flowers regular or irregular, mostly in compound 
umbels, often involucrate; the petals and stamens five, the carpels 
two, styles distinct; and the fruit a cremocarp—such are the 
typical members of the family. 
119. The parsley order (Umbellales or Umbelliflore) in- 
cludes two other families which agree with the parsley family 
in having mostly wmbellate inflorescences of small, complete, 
epigynous flowers, with the petals and stamens distinct and 
alternate, and the carpels with but a single ovule in each. 
For the formula of Umbellalles see pages 412, 413. 
1 Symbolized by the sign 6. 
2 Expressed in the formulas by 8”‘. 
3 Crem/o-carp < Gr. kremao, I hang; karpos, fruit. TC] < + 2. 
