MONOCOTYLEDONS AND DICOTYLEDONS 



267 



formula, and one that appears among the highest Sym- 

 petalae. 



The name of the family is suggested by the character- 

 istic inflorescence, which is also of advanced type. The 

 flowers are reduced in 

 size and massed in flat- X0$ f &§ 

 topped clusters called 

 umbels (Figs. 252, A, 253). 

 The branches of the clus- 

 ter arise in cycles from 

 the axis like the braces 

 of an umbrella. As a re- 

 sult of the close approxi- 

 mation of the flowers the 

 sepals are much reduced 

 in size and often obsolete 

 (Fig. 252, G). 



The Umbellifers are 

 mainly perennial herbs of 

 the north temperate re- 

 gions, forming a very dis- 

 tinct family, and contain- 

 ing the following familiar 

 forms : carrot (Daucus) 

 (Fig. 252), parsnip (Pasti- 

 naca), hemlock {Conium) 

 (Fig. 253), pepper-and- 

 salt (Erigenia), caraway 

 (Carum), fennel (Fcenic- 

 iihim), coriander (Cori- 

 andrum), celery (Api- 

 um), parsley (Petroseli- 

 num), etc. Allied to the 

 Umbellifers are the Ara- 

 lias (Araliacem), and the 

 Dogwoods (Cornacew). ' 



Fig. 253. Hemlock (Conium), an Umbellifer, 

 showing the umbels, with the principal 

 rays rising from a cycle of bracts (inro- 

 lucre), and each bearing at its summit a 

 secondary umbel with its cycle of second- 

 ary bracts (involucd).— After Schimpeb. 



