PENTANDRIA. 129 



marshes and wet places. According to trie investigations of 

 Decandolle, the following is the proportion of the order of 

 umbelliferous plants, found in different parts of the world, 

 viz. 



In the northern hemisphere, 679 species. 



In the southern do. 205 do. 



Of these, there are found, 



In the Old World, 663 species. 



In America, 159 do. 



Australasia, - y*-- 54 do. 



In scattered islands, 14 do. 



From this we learn, that the species of umbelliferous plants 

 known to botanists, amount to nearly nine hundred, and it is 

 probable that there are hundreds of species still undescribed 

 and unknown. 



In respect to the properties of this natural tribe, Dr. Lind- 

 ley says, they should be considered under two points of view, 

 viz. those of the vegetation, and those of the fructification. 

 The character of the former is generally suspicious, and often 

 poisonous in a high degree, as is the case of the herbage of 

 Hemlock, Fool's Parsley, and others, which are deadly poi- 

 sons. Nevertheless, the steins and leaves, (herbage,) of 

 Parsley, Celery, and Samphire, and the roots of Carrot and 

 Parsnip are wholesome articles of diet. The fruit, commonly 

 called the seeds, are in no case dangerous, and is generally a 

 warm and agreeable aromatic, as Caraway, Dill, Coriander, 

 Anise, &c. 



ORDER III. TRIGYNIA. Stamens 5. Styles 3. 



This order, when compared with the others already no- 

 ticed, is small, and contains but a few important genera. Of 

 these, the Sumac, Guelder Rose, and the Elder, are among 

 the most conspicuous. 



GENUS Sambucus. Elder. The name is said to be de- 

 rived from Sambuca, the Latin name of a wind instrument, 

 usually made of the wood of this shrub. There are many 

 foreign species of Elder which are unknown in this country. 

 The common European Elder, (Sambucus nigra,) is a showy 

 tree; growing fifteen or twenty feet high ; but except in size, 

 it appears not to differ from our common species (Sambucus 



Where is this tribe chiefly found ? What number of umbelliferous 

 plants are known to botanists ? What are the most conspicuous j lants of 

 the order Trigynia ? 



