636 A TEXT-BOOK OF BOTANY. 



XXIII. ORDER UMBELLALES OR UM BELLI FLOR.E. 



The plants of this order are widely distributed in northern 

 temperate regions, although there are some representatives in the 

 Tropics. The flowers are small, 4- or 5-merous and epigynous. 



a. ARALIACE^ OR GINSENG FAMILY.— The plants 

 are mostly trees or shrubs with alternate, petiolate, simple or 3- to 

 7-compound leaves. The flowers are either in umbels or panicles. 

 The fruit is a drupe or berry. The best known representatives of 

 this family are the English ivy (Hedera Helix) of Europe, and 

 Ginseng (Pajiax quinquefolium) (Fig. 345) growing in the East- 

 ern and Central United States. This plant is the source of the 

 ginseng root of commerce, considerable quantities of which are 

 exported to China, where it is used like the root of Panax Ginseng, 

 a plant growing wild in Manchuria and Korea. Both plants are 

 also cultivated in the United States, the roots from the wild plants 

 being preferred. The root contains a volatile oil, and considerable 

 starch. Several species of A-ralia are used in medicine (Fig. 344). 



The leaves of the English ivy contain the glucoside helixiri, 

 and a carbohydrate, inosit. They also contain formic, oxalic, malic, 

 tannic and hederic acids, besides the yellow principle carotin. The 

 fruits of the ivy contain a purplish-red coloring substance and are 

 said to be poisonous. 



The Chinese rice paper is made from the pith of Tetrapanax 

 papyriferiim, which grows wild in Formosa and is extensively 

 cultivated in China. The pith is cut spirally into thin strips, which 

 are spread out flat and then cut into pieces varying from 15 to 

 30 cm. long and 10 to 12 cm. broad. This paper differs from 

 other papers in that it is a natural product. 



The rhizome of Panax repens, growing in Japan, contains 20.8 

 per cent, of a non-toxic saponin with hemolytic properties. 



h. UMBELLIFER^ OR CARROT FAMILY.— The plants 

 are herbs, frequently with hollow stems ; alternate, simple or com- 

 pound leaves, the base of the petiole often forming an inflated 

 sheath ; and small white, yellowish, greenish or somewhat purplish 

 flowers occurring in simple or compound umbels. The fruit is a 

 cremocarp, having characters which are of important taxonomic 



