262 BOTANY FOR BEGINNERS CHAP. 



Properties of Rosaceae. The seeds of many species contain prussic 

 acid in small quantities. The Cherry Laurel contains this acid in the 

 leaves, and if these are eaten they produce intoxication. A very large 

 number of the plants of this order are used in medicine. 



Rosacese Cultivated for their Fruits. 



Apple and Pear Pyrus. 



Almond, Peach and Nectarine Amygdahis. 



Cherry, Apricot and Plum Prunus. 



Strawberry /'Vrt^a/Ya. 



Raspberry and Blackberry R-ubus. 



Natural Order: Umbelliferse (Parsley Family). All 

 the plants of this order are herbs with alternate leaves, 

 generally compound. The inflorescence is 



usually a compound umbel, and an involucre 

 of whorled bracts. The flowers are small 

 and actinomorphic. The calyx is gamo- 

 sepalous, 5 lobed and superior. The corolla 

 is polypetalous, there being 5 epigynous 

 petals (p. 184). The 5 stamens are epigy- 

 nous. The pistil consists of 2 carpels, 2 

 styles, and I ovule in each cell of the ovary. 



* IG. 253. Floral _, r . . . . , ON 



Diagram. The fruit is a schizocarp (p. 228). 



Floral formula. K(5),C5,A5,G(i). 



Description of a typical plant of the Umbelliferee 

 (Heradeum Sphondylium, Cow Parsley). 



Habit. A coarse hairy plant with small white flowers in 

 compound umbels. 



Root. A tap-root with numerous branches. 



Stem. Herbaceous, erect, hollow, ribbed, hairy, and green. 



Leaves. Cauline, alternate, deeply divided, with large sheaths 

 which clasp the stem ; exstipulate. 



Inflorescence. Indefinite, compound umbels. 



Bracts. Bracteate, forming an involucre at the base of the 

 main umbel, and partial involucres at the base of the secondary 

 umbels. 



Flower. Complete, actinomorphic, small, white or yellow ; 

 the outer flowers may be zygomorphic. 



Calyx. Gamosepalous, 5 lobed, superior, green and hairy. 



Corolla. Polypetalous, 5, epigynous. 



