488 



ANGIOSPERMS 



Parsley Family (Umbelliferae) . -- The Parsley family com- 

 prises about 1300 species. The 

 small epigynous flowers are 

 borne in umbels, whence the 

 name of the family (Fig. 436). 

 The stamens and parts of the 

 calyx and corolla are five. The 

 pistil consists of two partly 

 united carpels which separate 

 in the fruit. Carrots, Parsnips, 

 Celery, and Fennel are mem- 

 bers of this family. 



This family also contains some 

 bad weeds. The poison Hemlock 

 (Conium maculatum) and Water 

 Hemlock (Cituta maculata) are 

 two very poisonous plants, 

 which often grow in pastures 

 where livestock eat them and 

 are killed. The Wild Carrot 

 (Fig. 437) is troublesome in pas- 

 tures, meadows, and grain fields where it crowds out other plants. 



FIG. 436. Flowers and fruit of 

 the Wild Carrot (Daucus Carota). At 

 the left, a portion of a plant bearing 

 umbels of flowers and fruit; at the 

 right, flowers and a fruit much en- 

 larged to show their structure. 



FIG. 437. A meadow taken by the Wild Carrot. 



