282 SYSTEMATIC BOTANY. 



poisonous. Accidents occur from the resemblance of the foliage of these 

 plants to Parsley, an< of the roots of (Euantlie and others to Parsneps. 

 Jfydrocotyle asiatica is used in cases of leprosy. 



The plants furnishir g the antispasmodic gum-resins are mostly natives 

 of warmer regions than the poisonous kinds, and some doubts exist as to 

 the exact species which yield certain of these substances. Asafoatida is 

 believed to be deiived from Narthex Asafcetida and Scorodosma fcetida. 

 Ferula orientalis (Morocco) yields an analogous resin. Sagapenum is 

 supposed to be obtained from another species of Ferula. Gum Am- 

 moniacum is from a Persian plant called Dorema Ammoniacum and 

 Dorema gummiferum. Opoponax is the resin of Pastinaca Opoponax 

 (Opoponax Chironum). The source of Gum Galbanum is supposed to be 

 Ferula galbamflua and rubricaulis. 



The flavour of Celery (Apium graveolens), Parsley (Petroselinum sa- 

 tivum), Fennel (Foeniculum vulgar e), Angelica (Archangelica officinalis), 

 Eryngo (Erynyium maritimum and campestre), of the Carrot (Daucus 

 Carota), and the Parsnep (Pastinaca saliva) depend on a volatile oil con- 

 tained in the rind and leaves ; but more concentrated in the vittse of 

 the pericarp, which renders the fruits of these plants powerfully aromatic, 

 whence they a,re often used for flavouring in cooking ; the fruits of the 

 Caraway (Carum Carui), Dill (Anethum graveolens) , Coriander (Cori- 

 andrum saiivv.m), Anise (Pimpmella Anisum), Cummin (Cuminum Cymi- 

 num], Ammi copticum, and others are especially valued for these essential 

 oils. 



The roots of the Carrot and Parsnep, the root of Arrachaca esculenta 

 (New Granada), the stem and petioles of Celery, when rendered very 

 succulent by cultivation, retain only a moderate quantity of the aromatic 

 oils, and are then chiefly valuable for their saccharine and mucilaginous 

 qualities. Samphire, made into pickles, is Crithmum maritimum, a species 

 growing on maritime rocks. The roots of Chervil (Anthriscus Cerefolium) 

 were formerly eaten. The tubers of the species of Bunium are edible. 

 Alexanders (Smyrnium Olusatruni) was formerly cultivated like Celery. 

 Sumbul root is the produce of Euryanyium ISumbul, and is employed as a 

 tonic and stimulant. 



ARALIACE^E (THE IVY ORDER) consists of herbs, shrubs, or trees, 

 with characters resembling those of Umbelliferae, but usually with more 

 than 2 styles, and the fruit 3- or several-celled, succulent or dry, with 

 one perispermic seed in each cell.^ Illustrative Genera : Panax, L. j 

 Aralia, L. ; Hedera, L. ; Adoxa, L. ; Gunnera, L. ; Helwingia, Willd. 



Affinities, &c. The Araliacete stand very close to the Umbelliferae, but 

 may be distinguished by the ovary having more than 2 carpels. Most of the 

 plants have also a valvate aestivation of the corolla, while it is imbricated 

 in the Umbelliferse : there are some exceptions to the rule in the latter 

 Order ; and Adoxa is an exception here. Seemann separates as a distinct 

 Order, under the name Hederacese, all Umbelliferous plants with valvate 

 petals and a fruit composed of two or more carpels. The true Araliads, 

 according to this author, have imbricated petals. They are not so exclu- 

 sively herbaceous as the Umbelliferse, some being trees, and some climbing 

 shrubs, which latter bring the Order into relation with the Vitaceae. 

 They are nearly allied to Caprifoliacese, which have a sympetalous 



