566 FLORA OF MADRAS. [Heracleum. 



A trailing and rooting herb of ground vegetation, with 

 small white radiant flowers and pedate leaves. 



Apium graveolens, Linn., Celery, and Daucus Carota, Linn., 

 Carrot, are occasionally cultivated in gardens as vegetables. 



Foeniculum vulgare, Gaertn., Fennel, Anethnm Sowa, Roxb., 

 Dill, and Coriandrum sativum, Linn., Coriander, are some- 

 times cultivated for their leaves and seeds and may occasionally 

 be found run wild. 



Family LXXIX. ARALIACEAE. 



Trees or shrubs, sometimes climbing, rarely herbs, glabrous or 

 stellately pubescent, frequently prickly. Leaves alternate, rarely 

 opposite, long-petioled, large, simple or compound; stipules 

 adnate to the petiole, sometimes within its sheathing base, rarely 

 0. Floivers regular, hermaphrodite or polygamous, in umbels 

 racemes or panicled heads, with bracts and bracteoles ; pedicels 

 continuous with the base of the calyx or there articulated. Calyx- 

 tube adnate to the ovary ; limb truncate or with small teeth. 

 Petals usually 5, rarely more, valvate or slightly imbricate, 

 separating or deciduously calyptrate. Stamens as many as and 

 alternate with the petals, inserted round an epigynous disk. 

 Ovary inferior, 1- to many-celled ; ovules solitary in each cell, 

 pendulous ; styles as many as the cells, distinct or united. Fruit 

 usually drupaceous or dry, cells as many as the ovary. Seed 

 pendulous ; testa thin ; albumen uniform or ruminate ; .embryo 

 minute, radicle superior. 



Petals imbricate in bud : 



Styles 3-5, free ; leaves compound, often prickly 1. Aralia. 



Styles 5, combined ; leaves pinnate 2. Pentapanax. 



Petals valvate in bud : 



Ovary 2 -celled ; leaves compound Nothopanax. 



Ovary 4-10-celled : 



Pedicels jointed ; leaves pinnate 3. Polyscias. 



Pedicels continuous; leaves digitate 4. Scheffiera. 



1. Aralia, Linn. 



Herbs, shrubs or small trees, often prickly. Leaves alternate 

 or whorled, digitate pinnate or compound-pinnate; leaflets serrate 

 or nearly entire ; stipules small, not prominent. Flowers often 



