113 



plains of South Africa ; their flowers are often very CASE 

 beautiful. The Order is unimportant from an economic 59. 

 point of view but several of its representatives are 

 employed for medicinal purposes in South Africa. 



Umbellifer Order {Umhelli ferae), so called from the 

 arrangement of the flower-stalks in heads or " umbels." 

 There are about 1,300 species, all herbaceous and abound- 

 ing in temperate climates. The products of the group vary 

 much in character. Some species are acrid and poisonous, 

 some secrete gum-resins, others again are aromatic and 

 useful as condiments. Celery, Fennel, Parsnip, Carrot, 

 and Parslev, are all familiar esculents belonging to the 

 Order. 



Observe leaves of the INDIAN PENNYWORT {Hydrocotyle 

 asiatica, L.), used in India, internally as a tonic, and 

 externally as a local stimulant, being more especially 

 useful in cutaneous affections. The drug is generally 

 much mixed with grass and weeds and is occasionally 

 imported into this country. 



No. 294. Balsam Bog (Azorella gleharia, A. Gray), 

 a singular feature in the landscape of the Falkland Islands* 

 forming huge, hard, and perfectly hemispherical hillocks, 

 often 2 to 4 feet in height. It yields a gum which has 

 been used in medicine, [A " hillock " of the plant is 

 exhibited in a glass case, opposite Case 49.] 



Observe also tufts of plants of Azorella Selago, Hook, f ., 

 a \eY\ abundant plant in Kerguelens Land often covering 

 the ground with dense masses of vegetation. 



No. 295. Epidermis of the leaves of Hermas gigantea, 

 L., separated from the veins and midrib by the Hottentots 

 of South Africa. Used as a tinder, and made into minia- 

 ture socks, gloves, &c. 



On a lower shelf observe roots of the Sea Holly 

 {Erynglum maritimum, L.). A British sea-coast plant, 

 the roots of which are sometimes preserved in sugar and 

 eaten as a sweetmeat. 



Also leaves of the HEMLOCK (Conium maculatum, L.), 



a biennial herb on waste ground and hedge banks in many 



parts of England. Under the name of Conium it is used 



as a sedative and antispasmodic. In the East it is 



25782 H 



