CHAPTER Xll 



loped leaves, and is a conspicuous feature of the borders of streams 

 and pools in Southern California. Boiulesia lobata, R. & P., on 

 shaded hillsides, has exquisite foliage. Our common, early-blooming, 

 field Umbelliferse belong mainly to the genera Sanicula and Peuceda- 

 num. The earliest in Southern California is P. utriculatum, Nutt., 

 with compound umbels of yellow flowers much frequented by little 

 insects ; it has finely dissected leaves, and later on conspicuous fruits 

 with red borders. Yellow mats is the name given to some species of 

 Sanicle ; there is also a Sanicle with purple flowers. The umbellets 

 of the Sanicle are so compact that they are more properly called 

 heads ; only a few flowers, from five to eight, in each head, are per- 

 fect ; the styles of these perfect flowers protrude before the corollas 

 expand, and the stigmas mature much before the stamens stretch out 

 and expose their anthers a few at a time. The little fruits of the 

 Sanicle mature in early summer, and are armed with hooked spines ; 

 the children sometimes call them beggars' ticks. The other Umbel- 

 liferae noted in the Reader, are probably familiar by their common 

 names at least. The botanical names are : For the wild celery, Apium 

 graveolens, Linn.; the caraway, Carum carui, Linn,; the carrot, 

 Daucus carota, Linn.; the parsnip, Pastinaca saliva. Linn.; coriander, 

 Coriandrum sativum. Linn.; fennel, Fceniculum vulgare,Ger. 



The plants of this chapter have many individual traits worthy of 

 attention. As noted in Chapter III, many Composite are very success- 

 ful in adapting themselves to the vicissitudes of a dry climate. The 

 Umbelliferae generally seem to require more moisture; at any rate 

 several species that are persistent weeds in the Atlantic States do not 

 become troublesome here. Devices for the protection of flowers from 

 moisture or from over radiation of heat, are common in these orders. 

 The flower clusters of some species of Umbelliferse take a pendent 

 position at night, so that the involucre acts as a tent ; and many 

 Composite fold the bracts of the involucre or the corollas of the ray 

 flowers over the rest of the cluster. The methods of seed distribution 

 are varied and efficient. We have seen that a large number of Com- 

 positse have the calyx limb modified to a ring of bristles or hairs, so 

 that the fruits are rendered buoyant ; sometimes the bristles serve to 

 attach the fruits to passing objects. When this calyx limb, or pap- 

 pus, is easily separated from the fruit, as in the thistle, the fruits that 

 are landed against fences or walls simply detach themselves and fall 

 to the ground, so that we sometimes have hedge rows of Compositae 

 in such places. Frequently the calyx limb becomes a prehensile 

 organ, as in the genus Bidens ; or again, the involucre, closely invest- 

 ing the akenes, is armed with teeth and hooks, the Xanthium and 



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