426 



ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE NATURAL ORDERS. 



ruble from each other, and often from a slender axis (carpophore), 

 into two achenia, or mcricarps : the face by which these cohere re- 

 ceives the technical name of commissure : they are marked with a 

 definite number of ribs (juga), which are sometimes produced into 

 wings : the intervening spaces (intervals), as well as the commissure, 

 sometimes contain canals or receptacles of volatile oil, called vitta : 

 these are the principal terms peculiarly employed in describing the 

 plants of this difficult family. Embryo minute. Albumen hard or 

 corneous. — Ex. The Carrot, Parsnip, Celery, Caraway, Anise, 



Coriander, Poison Hemlock, &c. are common representatives of this 

 well-known family. Nearly all Umbelliferous plants are furnished 

 with a volatile oil or balsam, chiefly accumulated in the roots and in 

 the reservoirs of the fruit, upon which their aromatic and carmina- 

 tive properties depend : sometimes it is small in quantity, so as 

 merely to flavor the saccharine roots, which are used for food ; as in 

 the Carrot and Parsnip. Put in many an alkaloid principle exists, 

 pervading the foliage, stems, and roots, especially the latter, which ren- 



FIG. 845. Conium maeulatum (Poison Hemlock), n portion of the spotted stem, with n leaf; 

 end an urn bel with joung fruit 84G. A flowering umbcllet. 847. A flow or, enlarged 848 The 

 fruit. 849. Cross-section of the same, showing the involute (campylospcrmous) albumen of tho 

 two seeds. 850. Longitudinal section of oi.e lucricarp, exhibiting the minute, emk-jo near tha 

 apex Of the aibumeu. 



