WASTES AND WAYSIDES IN SUMMER 



167 



flat, oval or oblong, with serrate edges. The flowers have five 

 sepals and five petals, are of a purple or crimson colour, and are 

 clustered in close cymes. 



We have now to consider several species of the order Umbelliferce 

 ■ — a group of flowers which contains so many species, with often 

 such close resemblances in general a^Dpearance, that it is always 

 more or less puzzhng 

 to the beginner, 

 especially as it is fre- 

 quently necessary to 

 note minute details 

 of structure in order 

 to determine a 

 species. 



The leading char- 

 acteristic of the order 

 is that denoted by 

 its name ; for the 

 flowers, which are 

 generally very small 

 and white, are 

 arranged in umbels. 

 In a few instances 

 these umbels are 

 simple ; but in most 

 they are comjjound 

 — that is, the stalks 

 which radiate from 

 the same point on 

 the main peduncle, 

 and thus form the 

 primary iimbel, give 

 rise to the lesser 



stalks of the secondarij umbels, which are similarly arranged and 

 Ijear tlie flowers. There are often bracts at the base of the 

 primary umbel, in which case they are termed the primary bracts ; 

 and there are frequently secondary bracts or involiicels at the bases 

 of the secondary umbels. 



The flowers have a, superior calyx, with five teeth ; but this 

 is often so inconspicuous that it appears like a mere rim round the 

 top of the ovary. There are also five petals, which generally have 



The Orpixe or LmiLONG. 



