Seed Plants: Angiosperms 



315 



are now cultivated extensively on 

 bog soils in the northern United 

 States, for the production of pep- 

 permint oil and menthol. Catnip, 

 scarlet sage, water horehound, and 

 hyssop are common plants belong- 

 ing to this family. 



The potato family. This family is 

 composed of herbs and small woody 

 plants with expanded or tubular 

 flowers. The fruits are capsules or 

 berries containing numerous seeds. 

 Among the useful representatives 

 are the potato and the tomato, 

 eggplant, and red pepper. Several 

 plants containing narcotics, of 

 which the best-known example is 

 tobacco, belong here. Common 

 weeds that belong to the potato 

 family are the nightshade, horse 



, ,1 * , i T- FIG. 189. Wild carrot. The flat- 



nettle, ground cherry, and Jimson topped flower duster characterizes 



Weed. the family to which the carrot 



The carrot family. This family belongs ' 



is readily recognized by the flat-topped, much-branched 

 flower cluster (umbel). The parsnips, carrots, celery, and 

 sweet cicely are familiar examples. In addition to the food- 

 yielding forms, the water hemlocks should be known because 

 of their poisonous character. 



The heath family. Small, bell-shaped flowers and leathery 

 leaves are characteristics of the heath family. To it belong 

 the cranberries, blueberries, huckleberries, low-growing tea- 



