i.] UMBELLIFER^E. 163 



essential oil. These are the vittce. They are easily seen 

 in Cow-Parsnip, especially on the inner face (commissure) 



FIG. 113. Transverse section of same, showing the ridges and vittae of 

 the pericarp, also the embryo surrounded by albumen. 



of a ripe mericarp. They are club-shaped, and reach 

 more than half-way from the top of the carpel. 



OBSERVE the limb of the calyx, reduced to a rim 

 (obsolete), or sometimes appearing as small teeth : the 

 corolla, which is often irregular, especially in the outer 

 flowers of an inflorescence ; the petals directed from the 

 centre of the umbel being larger, recalling the relation of 

 the ray and disk florets of Compositae (page 174). The 

 apices of the petals are often inflexed. 



In respect of the leaves, compare Pennywort (Hydro- 

 cotyle\ with orbicular peltate leaves : Sea Holly (Eryn- 

 gium), very stiff and spinous leaves : Lesser Helosciad, 

 submerged leaves, with capillary segments : Buplever 

 (Bupleurum), with entire leaves, in Hare's-eaf Buplever 

 perfoliate ; in some other species of Buplever the leaf is 

 reduced to a phyllode ' the finely dissected leaves of 

 Fennel (Fceniciduni) : and succulent, dissected leaves of 

 Samphire (Crithmum}. 



Compare, in respect of the inflorescence, Hydrocotyle 

 or Pennywort, with few-flowered simple umbels : As- 

 trantia, with bracts of the partial umbels coloured, and 

 as long, or longer, than the flowers : Eryngium, with 

 capitate (sessile) flowers and large priokly involucres : 

 Wild Celery and Helosciad, with lateral umbels, owing 

 to the buds immediately below the umbels developing 

 shoots which overtop them, as in Lesser Senebiera 

 (p. 124). 



Compare, also, fruits of Sanicle, covered with stout 

 hooked prickles, and crowned with 5 prickly calyx-teeth : 



M 2 



