PARSLEY FAMILY 



171 



.since the flowers are so much alike that the species are dis- 

 tinguished from -each other mainly by minute characteristics 

 of the fruit.] 



I. ERYNGIUM L. 



Annual, biennial, or perennial herbs. Stems erect or creep- 

 ing. Leaves simple, mostly linear and spiny-toothed. Flowers 

 white or blue, in dense, bracted heads or spikes, flowers brac- 

 teolate. Calyx teeth rigid, persistent. Petals erect, pointed. 

 Styles slender. Fruit top-shaped, scaly or granular ; ribs 

 wanting; oil tubes usually 5, minute.* 



FIG. 26. Flower and fruit of Umbeliiferce 



A-D, Carum Carvi: A, flower ; B, partly matured pistil ; C, mature fruit ; 

 D, cross section of fruit. E, fruit of parsnip; F, fruit of carrot, c, carpels; 

 cp, carpophore, or stalk to'which ripe carpels are attached ; d, disk ; o, oil 

 tubes ; ov, ovary ; s, stigmas. (A-D, after Schuizlein ; E, after Bischoff ) 



1. E. yuccifolium Michx. BUTTON SNAKEROOT, RATTLESNAKE 

 MASTER. Perennial. Stem erect, branched above, striate, covered 

 with a bloom, 2-3 ft. high. Leaves linear, often 2 ft. or more in 



