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- j^^%f^- 

 topped clusters called 

 U7nbels (Figs. 252, A, 263), 

 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, C). 



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 (Dmtcus) 

 (Fig. 252), parsnip (Pasti- 

 naca), hemlock {Conium) 

 (Fig. 253), pepper-and- 

 salt {Erigenia), caraway 

 (Carum), fennel {Fcenic- 

 uhim), coriander {Cori- 

 andriim), celery {Api- 

 lun), parsley (Petroseli- 

 7mm), etc. Allied to the 

 Umbellifers are the Ara- 

 lias {Araliacem), and the 

 Dogwoods (ConiacecB). 



Fio. 253. ITomlock {Con'umi), an Umbollifer, 

 show-ills tlic umbels, with the principal 

 rays rising from a cycle of bracts {invo- 

 luc7'e), and each bearing at its summit a 

 secondary umbel with its cycle of second- 

 ary bracts {involucel).— After Scuimper. 



