428 ARALIACE^ 



and a variety called apiifolia, have been long looked upon as poisonous. 

 The roots have been mistaken for parsnips, and fatal effects have been 

 thus produced. It would appear, however, that these poisonous 

 qualities are not invariably present, for Dr. Christison found that the 

 roots of this plant, when growing in a sea-side locality, near Edin- 

 burgh, were innocuous. It remains to be determined if the climate 

 and locality have any effect in modifying the properties of the plant. 

 The same remarks may be made in regard to (Enanthe Phellandrium 

 (Water Dropwort), and Cicuta virosa (Water Hemlock or Cowbane), 

 which seem to vary as regards their poisonous properties. JEthusa 

 Cynapium (Fool's Parsley), is another plant of the order reputed 

 poisonous. It has been stated that the roots of Parsnip, during the 

 spring of the second year, on the approach of the flowering season, 

 occasionally produce a poisonous matter. 



894. Order 98. Araliaceie, the Ivy Family. (Polypet. Epigyn.} 

 Calyx entire or toothed (fig. 309 c). Petals definite (fig. 309 p\ 2, 5, 

 10, deciduous, occasionally 0; aestivation valvate. Stamens as many 

 as the petals, or twice as many, inserted below the margin of an 

 epigynous disk (fig. 309 e e). Ovary adherent to the tube of the calyx, 

 2 or more celled (fig. 309 6) ; ovules solitary, pendulous (fig. 309), 

 anatropal ; styles 2 or more, distinct or connate (fig. 309 s) ; stigmas 

 simple. Fruit usually succulent, 2-15-celled, covered by the calycine 

 limb. Seeds solitary, pendulous, adhering to the endocarp ; albumen 

 fleshy ; embryo small ; radicle pointing to the hilum. Trees, shrubs, 

 or herbaceous plants, with alternate exstipulate leaves, and umbellate 

 (fig. 240) or capitate flowers. They are found both in tropical and 

 in cold regions. Lindley enumerates 21 genera, including 160 species. 

 Examples Aralia, Panax, Adoxa, Hedera. 



895. They have generally aromatic and stimulant properties. They 

 are allied to Umbelliferse, but do not possess poisonous qualities in a 

 marked degree, nor does their fruit usually yield volatile oil. A 

 species of Panax yields the famous Ginseng root of the Chinese, which 

 is used as a stimulant. Panax quinquefolium possesses qualities resem- 

 bling those of ginseng. Some species of Aralia yield an aromatic 

 gum-resin. Aralia nudicaulis, a native of North America, has fra- 

 grant and aromatic roots, which are used as a substitute for sarsapar- 

 illa. A. spinosa, called toothache-tree in North America, is a stimulant 

 diaphoretic. The succulent fruit of Hedera Helix, the Ivy, is emetic 

 and purgative. 



896. Order 99. Coraacwe, the Cornel Family. (Polypet. Epigyn.) 

 Calyx 4-lobed. Petals 4, oblong, broad at the base, regular, inserted 

 into the upper part of the calycine tube; sestivation valvate. Stamens 

 4, inserted along with the petals, and alternate with them ; anthers 

 dithecal. Ovary adherent to the tube of the calyx, 2-celled, crowned 

 by a disk; ovules solitary, pendulous, anatropal; style filiform; stigma 



