MONOCOTYLEDONS AND DICOTYLEDONS 



267 



formula, and one that appears among the highest Sym- 

 petalae. 



The name of the family is suggested by the character- 

 istic inflorescence, which is also of advanced type. The 

 flowers are reduced in 

 size and massed in flat- 

 topped clusters called 

 umbels (Figs. 252, A, 253). 

 The branches of the clus- 

 ter arise in cycles from 

 the axis like the braces 

 of an umbrella. As a re- 

 sult of the close approxi- 

 mation of the flowers the 

 sepals are much reduced 

 in size and often obsolete 

 (Fig. 252, C). 



The Umbellifers are 

 mainly perennial herbs of 

 the north temperate re- 

 gions, forming a very dis- 

 tinct family, and contain- 

 ing the following familiar 

 forms : carrot (Daucus) 

 (Fig. 252), parsnip (Pasti- 

 naca), hemlock (Conium) 

 (Fig. 253), pepper-and- 

 salt (Erigenia), caraway 

 (Carum), fennel (Fcenic- 

 ulum), coriander (Cori- 

 andrum), celery (Api- 

 um), parsley (Petroseli- 



\ AIT J j. ^ FIG. 253. Hemlock (Conium}, an Umbellifer, 



Hum), etc. Allied to the 8howin g the umbels, with the principal 



Umbellifers are the Ara- rays rising from a cycle of bracts (ini-o- 



-, . / 4 7 . x -i ji lucre), and each bearing at its summit a 



has (Arahacece), and the gecoi ; dary nmbe i with its cycle of second- 



DogWOOds ( Oomacece). ary bracts (involuce!). After SCHIMPER. 



