PARSLEY FAMILY 



171 



since the flowers are so much alike that the species are dis- 

 tinguished from each other mainly by minute characteristics 

 of the fruit.] 



I. ERYNGIUM L. 



Annual, biennial, or perennial herbs. Stems erect or creep- 

 ing. Leaves simple, mostly linear and spiny-toothed. Flowers 

 white or blue, in dense, bracted heads or spikes, flowers brac- 

 teolate. Calyx teeth rigid, persistent. Petals erect, pointed. 

 Styles slender. Fruit top-shaped, scaly or granular ; ribs 

 wanting ; oil tubes usually 5, minute.* 



Fig. 26. Flower and fruit of UmbelUfercB 



A-D, Canon Carvi: A, flower; 7>, partly matured pistil; C, mature fruit; 

 I), cross section of fruit. E, fruit of parsnip ; /', fruit of carrot, c, cari)els ; 

 cp, carpophore, or stalk to which ripe carpels are attached; d, disk; o, oil 

 tubes; oi\ ovary; s, stigmas. {A-D, after Schnizleiu; E, after Bischoff) 



1. E. yuccifolium ]\Iichx. Button Snakeroot, Rattlesnake 

 Mastku. Perennial. Stem erect, branched above, striate, covered 

 with a bloom, 2-3 ft. high. Leaves linear, often 2 ft. or more in 



