EXAMINATION OP AN UMBELLIFER. 



CHAPTER VII. 



EXAMINATION OF A PLANT WITH EPIGYNOUS STAMENS 

 WATER-PARSNIP. 



58. Water-Parsnip. This is a common swamp 

 plant in Canada ; but if any difficulty be experienced in 

 procuring specimens, the flower of the common Carrot or 

 Parsnip or of Parsley may be substituted for it, all these 

 plants being closely related, and dif- 

 fering but slightly in the structure 

 of their flowers. 



Notice first the peculiar appearance 

 of the flower cluster (Fig. 51 ). There 

 are several pedicels, nearly of the same 

 length, radiating from the end of the 

 peduncle, and from the end of each 

 pedicel radiate in like manner a num- 

 ber of smaller ones, each with a flower 

 at its extremity. Such a cluster is 

 known as an umbel. If, as in the 

 present case, there are groups of secondary pedicels, the, 

 umbel is compound. As the flowers are very small we; 

 shall be obliged to use the lens all through the examination. 

 Even with its aid you will have a little difficulty in making 

 out the calyx, the tube of which, in this flower, adheres to 

 the surface of the ovary, as in Willow-herb, and is reduced 

 above to a mere rim or border of five minute teeth. The 

 petals are five in number, and free from each other. 

 Observe that each of them is incurved at its extremity 



Fig. 52. Fig. 51. 



Fig. 51. Compound umbel of Water-Parsnip. 

 Fig. 52. Single flowor of ame, FiiT, 53. Vertical section of the ovary. 



