136 GOLDEN ALEXANDEBS. 



The Name in Latin is Carum aureum. It is associated 

 with Caraway (Carum Carvi} whose native country is Caria 

 in Asia Minor ; hence the name. The specific term,, aureum, 

 means golden. Other plants called also Golden Alexanders, 

 with yellow umbels in June, may perplex the student. One 

 such, 0. cor datum, is smooth all over like C. aureum, but its 

 root-leaves are generally cordate and simple, and the stem- 

 leaves never biternate. 



Classification. These examples introduce us to the 

 great Order of the UMBELLIFEK^: the Umbel-bearing 

 Plants, characterized as we have seen by the following 7 

 traits : 



Stems hollow. Inflorescence in umbels. 



Leaves divided. Flowers pentandrous. 



Petioles sheathing. Ovary inferior. 



Fruit a crempcarp. 



The Umbel worts. The 270 genera of this Order, and probably 

 also the 1500 species, are distinguished by as many varying forms of 

 the cremocarp. Here the fruit is flattened on the sides ; there, as 

 in Parsnip, on the back, and in Coriander not flattened either 

 way, but globular. Here the ribs are angular ridges; there they 

 are winged ; in Carrot they are each beset with a row of bristles. 

 The ribs vary in number, from 3 to 9 ; so also the oil-tubes, being 

 none in Cicely, 4 in Carum, 9 in Carrot, and 15 or more in Lovage. 

 With a good microscope, the student will find these observations 

 full of interest. 



The Umbelworts are chiefly natives of the North Temperate Zone in 

 both Continents, and the high mountains of the Tropics. Many of them 

 are adapted to special uses. As food plants, we have the Carrot, Pars- 

 nip, Celery,* Parsley, Chervil. For aromatics and carminatives, we 

 have the fruits of Anise, Caraway, Coriander, Dill, Cummin. As 



* The action of light upon plants is well illustrated in the case of our Garden Cel- 

 ery. The stalks are blanched by heaping earth about them so as to exclude the sun ; 

 but not only is the formation of the green coloring matter (chlorophyl) thus prevented, 

 but also, of the strong-odored if not poisonous substance which ordinarily renders 

 this plant unwholesome. 



