PARSLEY FAMILY. IJmbelli ferae. 



PARSLEY FAMILY. Umbelliferce. 



Herbs with hollow stems, generalh^ deeply cut com- 

 pound leaves, and tiny flowers in mostly broad flat-topped 

 clusters, perfect (often polygamous), having five petals, 

 as many stamens, and two styles. In some flowers the 

 styles protrude from the yet undeveloped blossom, and 

 the stigmas are touched by the visiting insect long be- 

 fore the anthers are mature, thus securing cross-fertiliza- 

 tion. Commonly visited by countless insects, including 

 the honeybee, the bumblebee, and many butterflies, 

 chief among which are the Black Swallowtails. The 

 manj^ species are not easily distinguished apart, as the 

 flowers are very similar ; in general, minute character- 

 istics of the seed show the radical differences best. 

 Strong-scented plants remarkable for their aromatic oil. 

 One of our commonest weeds, natural- 

 Wild Carrot j^ed from Europe, and familiar by every 

 Anne's Lace wa3^side near a dwelling. A coarse and 

 or Bird's Nest hairy -stemmed biennial with exceedingly 

 Dancns Ccrota fine-cut leaves, yellowish green, and rough 

 Dull white ^q ^j^g touch ; they are thoroughly decora- 



" ^. . five. The dull white flowers, in extremelv 



September ' 



flat-topped clusters, are gracefulh^ dis- 

 posed in a radiating pattern as fine as lace ; in the cen- 

 tre of the cluster is frequently found a single tiny deep 

 purple floret. Visited bj- innumerable insects, flies, but- 

 terflies, bees, and moths, most of which are attracted by 

 the peculiarly strong odor. The aged flower-cluster 

 curls up and resembles a bird's nest, from which circum- 

 stance the plant derives that name. 2-3 feet high. In 

 w^aste places and fields everywhere ; it is often a most 

 troublesome weed. A near relative of the garden carrot. 

 A smooth, perennial species somewhat 

 em oc similar in appearance to wild carrot, but 



Conioselinum with a slender- branched flower-cluster 

 Canadense composed of far less showy dull white 



Dull white flowers. The leaves similar, the lower 



"^"^ h long-stemmed, the upper quite stemless. 



The fruit or seed is smooth, flat, and 

 prominently five-ribbed, the two side ribs exceedingly 

 306 



