164 UMBELLIFER.E. [CLASS 



Astrantia, with plaited toothed ridges and distinct calyx- 

 lobes, vittas o : Carrot, with setulose primary and prickly 

 secondary ridges : Scandix, with a long beak, vittae o : 

 Prangos, winged primary ridges : Laserpitium t winged 

 secondary ridges, the primary being obsolete. With 

 respect to the form of the seed, compare Cow-Parsnip 

 (seen in cross section), with the face towards the com- 

 missure flat : Wild Chervil, with the same face furrowed : 

 and Coriander (cut vertically), with the upper and lower 

 ends incurved. Upon these characters, derived from 

 the form of the seed, subordinal divisions have been 

 based. 



Although the Order includes many valuable esculent 

 plants, yet so many species are dangerous, that Umbel- 

 lifers generally are regarded as suspicious. Some, which 

 are harmless under cultivation, are poisonous in the wild 

 state, as Celery, which is only wholesome when blanched^ 

 by being deprived of light, which is necessary to the 

 development of its poisonous principle. 



Amongst the useful species are Carrots, Parsnips, Skir- 

 rets, Eryngo, Spignel (root) ; Archangel, Celery, Fennel, 

 Parsley, Samphire (stem or herbage) ; Caraways, Cori- 

 ander s, Dill, Anise, Cumin (fruit). 



The root of Spignel (Meum\ called Baldmoney, is 

 chewed in the Highlands. 



Arracacha, a native of the South American Andes, 

 affords a large, fleshy, esculent root, the cultivation of 

 which has hitherto failed in Europe. 



Of our British species, Hemlock (Conium macula- 

 turn)^ distinguished by its spotted stem and mouse-like 

 smell ; Cowbane (Cicuta virosa ) ; and Water Hemlock 

 (QLnanthe crocata) are virulent poisons. Hemlock was 

 the State poison of Athens, by which Socrates was put 

 to death. 



30. Natural Order Araliaceas. The Ivy Family. 



DISTRIBUTION. Principally inter-tropical in both 

 hemispheres, with several outliers in the temperate zones. 

 One British genus, species i. 



Type Common Ivy (liedera Helix). 



