376 ORDER 63. UMBELLIFERJ3. 



thickened bases. Stigmas simple. Fruit a cremocarp ( 557), consisting of 2 co- 

 herent achenia called mericarps which separate along the middle space, which is 

 called the commissure. 

 Carpophore, the slender, simple or forked axis attached to and supporting the 



mericarps at top, inclosed between them at the commissure. 

 Ribs 5 ridges traversing each mericarp lengthwise, and often 4 intermediate or 



secondary ones, some, all, or none of them winged. 

 Vittce little tubular receptacles of colored volatile oil imbedded in the substance 



of the pericarp, just beneath the intervals of the ribs, and also sometimes in the 



face of the commissure. 

 Embryo in the base of abundant, horny albumen, (Illust in figs. 25, 27, 102, 134, 



135, 163, 207, 297, 433.) 



Genera 270, species 1500 or more. A large and well defined natural order, native of damp 

 places, waysides, groves, &c., in the cool parts of the world. Very few are found in tropical 

 countries, except upon the mountains. 



Propertiex, aromatic, stimulant and carminative, depending upon a volatile oil residing in the 

 vittse of the fruit, in the roots, &c. The herbage is frequently pervaded by an acrid, narcotic 

 principle, rendering it very poisonous. Of this nature is the Conium maculatum (Hemlock), 

 Cicuta virosa, JEthusa Cynapium (Fool's Parsley), besides many others which have at least a 

 suspicious character. But the fruit is never poisonous, and is usually stimulant and aromatic, 

 as Caraway, Anise, Dill, Coriander, &c. Even the roots and herbage of other species are whole- 

 6ome and nutritive, as the Carrot, Parsnip, Sweet Cisely, Celery, and Archangelica. The gum 

 resin asaafoetida exudes from incisions on the Ferula of Persia. The Gum Galbanum is the 

 product of Galbanum officinale, an Indian species. The genera of the Umbellifene are often best 

 defined by characters founded upon the number and development of the ribs, the presence or 

 absence of the vittse, and the form of the albumen, particularly at the commissure. These 

 parts, therefore, minute as they are, will require the especial attention of the student. 



De Candolle subdivided the Umhelworts into sections, depending upon the form of the albu- 

 men and seed, whether (1.) flat on the inner face, or (2.) convolute at the sides, or (3.) involute 

 at the euds. This arrangement is often impracticable as a step in the 



ANALYSIS OP THE GENERA. 



Flowers in simple umbels, sometimes spicate. Leaves simple, (a) 

 Flowers in capitate umbels, i. e., sessile, forming dense heads, (b) 

 { Flowers in regularly compound umbels, not sessile in heads. (1) 



1 Fruit flattened on the back, the margins only singly winged, (c) 

 1 Fruit flattened on the back, the margin only doubly -winged, (d) 

 1 Fruit terete or flattened on the sides. Ribs bristly echinate. (e) 



Ribs smooth. Flowers xanthic. (f) 

 Ribs smooth. Flowers cyanic. (2) 

 2 Plants exotic, growing in gardens, &c. (1) 

 2 Plants native or naturalized, growing wild. (3) 

 3 Fruit slender, thrice longer than wide, often beaked, (g) 

 3 Fruit' short, once to twice as long as wide. Ribs (6 to 10)-winged. (h 



Eibs not winged. (4) 



4 Seed furrowed or excavated on the inner face, (i) 

 4 Seed flat on the inner face. Involucre none or almost none, (j) 

 Involucre of 2 to 8 bracts, (k) 



a Fruit flat, orbicular. Leaves round or roundish I!YDROCOTYLE. 1 



a Fruit globular. Leaves linear, fleshy phyllodia CUANTZIA. 3 



b Flowers partly sterile. Fruit densely muricate, few SANICULA. 3 



b Flowers all fertile. Fruit scaly, many in the head. ERYNGIUM. 4 



C Flowers yellow. Fruit with a thick, corky margin POLYT>ENIA. 5 



C Flowers yellow. Fruit with a thin margin PASTINACA. 6 



O Flowers white, of two sorts, the marginal radiant HERACLEUM. 7 



all alike. Lfts. 3 to 9, mostly entire ARCHEMORA. 8 



Lfts. 0, phyllodia linear TIEDEMANNIA. 9 



d Seed adherent to the pericarp, with 6 to 8 vittae ANGELICA. 10 



d Seed not adherent, &c., all covered with vittae ARCHANGELICA. 11 



e Involucre of several pinhatifld bracts D-AUCCS. 12 



f Involucels of ovate, entire bracts. Leaves simple BUPLITRUM. 13 



f Involucels none. Carpels with 5 obtuse ribs ANETHUM. 14 



f Involucels subulate. Ribs sharp or winged. Leaflets toothed THASPICM. 15 



Ribs not at all winged. Leaflets entire ZIZIA. 18 



