SKCT. II 



PHANEROGAMIA 



637 



The most recent revision of the family is by Drude in Engler-Prantl, A~a(. 

 Pflanzcnfam. ; an older useful division is founded on the shape of the endosperm. 



1. Orthospermae. — The endosperm flat or slightly convex on the ventral side, 

 i.e. on the side towards the plane of junction of the two mericarps (Fig. 661, 1, 2). 

 The majority of the species belong to this group. Hydrocotyle is a creeping 



Fio. C65. — Cicuta virosa. Rhizome cut through longitudinally (i nat. size). Fruit 



(enlarged). Poisoxors. 



plant growing in mai'shy places with entire, peltate leaves and simple umbels. 

 Sanicula and Astrantia have simple umbels, which in the latter are surrounded 

 by a petaloid involucre. In Eryngium the plant is usually spiny and bears 

 simple umbels, which approach closely to being capitula ; the involucral leaves are 

 often coloured. Buplcurum hag entire leaves. PinvpineUa, Burnet -Saxifrage. 

 P. Anisum, Anise, is an annual plant, the seedlings of which exhibit increasing 

 subdivision of the lamina in successive leaves. Carum Carvi, Carroway, has 



