r 



UMBELLIFER^. (i»ARSLP:Y FAMII^Y.) HM) 



(tices or intervals hetwcon them aro commonly lod^'od tho oil-tul)r8 (vitta), 

 which are l()n;j;itu(]inal canals in the substance of the fruit, containin*' 

 aromatic oil. (These are best seen in slices made across the fniit.) Seed 

 suspended from the snnnnit of the cell, anatropous, with a minute embrvo 

 in hard albumen. — Stems usually hollow. Leaves alternate, mostly com- 

 pound, the petioles expanded or sheathin;^ at base; rarely with true 

 stij)ules. Umbels usually compound, in which case the secondary ones 

 arc termed wnhellets : the whorl of bracts which often subtends the gen- 

 eral umbel is the involucre, and those of the umbellets the inrnlurcls. The 

 base of the styles is frequently thickened and cushion-like, and called 

 the stijlopodium. In many the flowers are dichoyamous, i. e. the stNles 

 are protruded from the bud some time before the anthers develop, — an 

 arrangement for cross-fertilization. — A large family, some of the plants 

 innocent and aromatic, others with very poisonous (acrid-narcotic) prop- 

 erties. The flowers are much alike '■in all, and the fruits, inflorescence, 

 etc., likewise exhibit comparatively small diversity. The family is con- 

 sequently difficult for the young student. 



I. Fruit with the secondary ribs the most prominent, winged and armed witji 

 barbed or hooked prickles, the primary ribs filiform and bristly. 



1. Daucus. Calyx-teeth obsolete. Fruit flattened doi-sally. Seed-face flat. 



2. Caucalis. Calyx-teeth prominent. Fruit flattened laterally. Seed-face deeply .sulcate. 

 II. Fruit with primary ribs only (hence but 3 dorsal ones on each carpel). 



* Fruit strongly flattened dorsally, with the lateral ribs prominently winged. 



•1- Caulescent branching plants, with white flowers. 

 +* Lateral wings distinct ; oil-tubes usually more than one in the inter^^'lls. 



3. Angelica. Stylopodium mostly depressed, but the disk prominent and crcnulate 



Dorsal ribs strong. Stout perennials, with mostly coarsely divided leaves. 



4. Conioselinum. Stylopodium slightly conical. Dorsal ribs prominent. Tall slender 



glabrous perennial ; leaves thin, finely pinnately compound. 



♦* ♦* Lateral wings closely contiguous; oil-tubes solitary ; stylopodium thick-conical. 



5. Tledeinannia. Dorsal ribs apparently 5, filiform. Smooth swamp herbs with leaves 



few or reduced to hollow cylindrical petioles. 



6. Heracleuui. Dor-sal ribs filiform, the broad wings with a marginal nerve. Oil-tubes 



obclavate. Petals conspicuous. Tall stout i)erennials, with large loaves. 



-t- 4- Caulescent branching plants, with depressed stylopodium and yellow flowera. 



7. Pastinaca. Fruit with filiform dorsal ribs, thin wings, and .solitary oil-tulws. 



8. Polytaiiiia. Fruit with a thick corky margin, obscure dorsal ribs, and ver)' numer- 



ous oil-tubes. 

 •*-■*-■*- Acaulesccnt or nearly so, with filiform dorsal ribs, thin wings, and no stylopoilium. 



9. Peucedanuin. Flowers white or yellow. Low western plants, of dry {iround, with 



thick roots and finely dissected leaves. 



• * Fruit not flattened either way or but slightly, neither prickly nor scaly. 



•*- Kibs all conspicuously winged ; stylopcHlium dei)re.sscd or wanting 



10. Cymopterus. Low and glabrous, mostly cespito-so perennials, with pinnaloly com- 



pound leaves and white flowers. Oil-tubes 1 to several. Westorn. 



11. Thasplitni. Tall perennials, with temately divided or simple leaves, and yellow flow- 



ens (rarely purple). Oil tubes .solitary. 



