THE PARSLEY FAMILY, UMBELLIFER&. 



This large family contains many herbaceous plants of weedy appear- 

 ance, seldom of much floral beauty, but important as food plants, boih for 

 their large succulent roots, as in the Carrot and Parsnip, or for their fleshy 

 leaf stalks, as Celery. The seeds of many are aromatic and wholesome, as 

 Caraway and Coriander. There are also many plants like the Cowbane and 

 Hemlock, which contain virulent poisons. The leaves are mostly pinnatifid, 

 repeatedly sub-divided, and the flowers are borne in compound umbels, a 

 form of inflorescence in which all the secondary foot-stalks of the flowers 

 start from the top of the peduncle or general foot-stalk, like the supports of 

 the ribs of an umbrella. The ovary is 2-celled and the tube of the 5-lobed 

 calyx covers it and is completely adherent to it. The corolla has 5 petals, 

 often unequal in size. When ripe, the 2 cells of the fruit separate into 

 2 seed-like halves, having 5 main ribs running lengthwise, which in the differ- 

 ent plants are modified into wings or into rows of bristles or prickles of great 

 value in separating the species. Inside the corky coat of the seeds are 

 several longitudinal cavities filled with resinous or oily matters, which give 

 the characteristic odours or flavours to the fruit. The true seed is inside 

 the fruit and is tasteless. There are very few Canadian farm weeds be- 

 longing to the Parsley family; undoubtedly the most important members 

 are the poisonous Cowbanes. The Caraway, Carum Carui, L., has run wild 

 in some parts of Eastern Canada and is often complained of; but it is a 

 biennial, and, if the plants are mowed closely or fed off for two years, it 

 disappears. The Carrot and the Parsnip in the same way have escaped from 

 cultivation in some places, but are easily disposed of in land that can be 

 ploughed. Meadow land infested with Wild Carrot should be broken up and 

 re-seeded. 



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