498 DICOTYLEDONES. 



USES. A few are cultivated as ornamental plants. They are, however, useful) 

 in medicine, 1 and for culinary purposes on account of the essential oils and 

 gum-resins which in many are formed in root, stem, and fruit. The FRUITS of 

 the following are used: Carum carvi f (Caraway), Carum petroselinum (Pars- 

 ley ; also the leaves and root ; its home is the Eastern Mediterranean) ; 

 Fcenictilum capillaceum f (Fennel ; S. Europe) ; Pimpinella anisum f (Anise ;. 

 E. Mediterranean) ; Coriandrum sativum f (Coriander ; S. Eur.) ; (Enanthe- 

 phellandrium (Water Drop- wort ); Cuminum cyminum (Point Caraway ; Africa; 

 cultivated in S. Europe); Anethum graveolens (Dill). The LEAVES of the follow- 

 ing are used as pot-herbs : Anthriscus cerefolium (Chervil) ; Myrrhis odoruta 

 (Sweet Cicely ; Orient.); Conium maculatum f (the green portions ; Hemlock). 

 Besides Parsley, the ROOTS of the following are used : Carrot, Parsnip, Shim 

 xisarum (Sugar-root; E. Asia); Chcerophyllum bulbosum (Chervil-root); l.evi- 

 stictnn officinale (foliage-shoots ; S. Europe) ; Imperatoria ostruthium ; Apiuni 

 yrai eolens (Cflery, the root in conjunction with the internodes) ; Pimpinella, 



st 



FIG. 539. Anthriscus Silvester : 1 <J -flower; 2 $ -flower 



saxifraga and marjna (Pimpinell) ; Archangelica (Angelica, the root of A, 

 iiorvegica was formerly an article of food in Norway). Poisonous alkaloids are 

 found in a few, such as Fool's Parsley (JEthusa cynapium), Hemlock (Conium 

 maculatum), Cow-bane (Cicuta virosa) and species of (Enanthe. Gum-resin is 

 extracted from various species: "Galbanum" from F erula galbaniflua f and 

 rnbricalis f (Persia) ; Asafoatida from Ferula scorodosma f and F. narthex f ; 

 Ammoniac-gum from Dorema ammoniacum f, all from Central and S. W. Asia. 

 " Silpliium " was an Umbelliferous plant which grew in ancient times in 

 Cyrene, and from which the Romans extracted a valued condiment. 



Family 25. Hysterophyta. 



This family (with the exception of Aristolochiaceae) includes 

 only parasitic plants. Partly on this ground, and partly because 

 they all have epigynous flowers, they are considered to belong to 

 the youngest type (which is expressed in the name vcrrepos, the 

 one that comes after). It is not certain to which of the preceding 

 families they are most nearly allied. Again, it is a matter of doubt 



1 Those marked f are officinal, and when no home is stated, the plant is a* 

 native. 



