m 



FIELD AND WOODLAND PLANTS 



their points turned inwards ; and five stamens. The inferior ovary 

 consists of two united carpels, surmounted by a fleshy disc that 

 supports tlie petals and the stamens, and bears two styles. 



Special attention must be given to the structure of the fruits 

 of umbcllifers, for a close examination of these is often necessary 



for purposes of iden- 

 tification. Tlie two 

 carjiels are close to- 

 gether, with theii- 

 adjacent surfaces 

 flattened, and are 

 fixed to a central 

 axis called the carpo- 

 phore. As the fruit 

 nj)en.s, the carpo- 

 2)liore often divides, 

 from above down- 

 wards, becoming 

 Y-shaped ; and the 

 carpels, thus separ- 

 ated, are for a time 

 suspended on its two 

 arms. Each carpel 

 is marked byvertical 

 ridges, generally 

 nine in number, five 

 of them (primary 

 ridges) being more 

 prominent tlian the 

 four intermediate or 

 ■s e c nd ary ridges. 

 The ridge on each 

 side of tlie carpel, 

 nearest to the fissure tliat divides the fruit into two parts, is 

 often extended so as to form wings by means of which wind- 

 distribution is greatly facilitated ; and between the various ridges 

 are the furrows of the fruit. In addition to these features, there 

 are often narrow, liglit-coloiu-ed streaks running ))arallel with the 

 ridges, in the walls of tlie fruit. Tliere are usually six of these in 

 each carjjel, sometimes more than one in the same furrow, and they 

 mark tlie ])Ositions of narrow oil-sacs or ritta'. p]ach carpel contains 

 onlv one seed. 



The Fool's pakslev. 



