346 tJMBELHFER.S:. Lclass v. okder li. 



tmbnjo is sm.iU, at the base of the albumen. Cotyledons oblong, 

 somewhat unequal. 



The distribution of this order which we have followed is nearly that of 

 Dr. Koch, as given in his Flora Germanicaj et Helveticse. He divides 

 it into three sub-orders. 



1. OrthospermzE. Albumen in front, flat, or nearly so. 



2. Campylosperm^. Albumen with its sides curved inwards, 

 forming a longtitudinal furrow in front. 



3. CoDosPERM^. Albumen hemispherical, concave in front. 



The Tribes are founded upon the diversities of forms in the umbels, 

 the presence or absence of the vittae, and the number of ridges on the 

 carpels. The genera upon the presence or absence of the calyx, the 

 form of the petals and the position and outline of the ridges upon the 

 carpels. 



It will be seen by the details of this important order of plants how 

 very much they differ in their properties, some being mild, and useful 

 as articles of foods, affording an abundance of nutritive matter ; others 

 are agreeable, or powerfully aromatic, from theabundance of essential oil 

 which they contain, being giateful stimulants and usefulj condiments, 

 while others possess powerful medicinal properties, or are in a high 

 degree poisonous ; and those plants growing in watery places may in 

 general be regarded with suspicion as possessing poisonous or dile- 

 terious properties ; while those plants growing in a dry soil are for the 

 most part esculent and aromatic ; but although the stem and leaves 

 may be poisonous, of some plants, the seeds do not in any case seem to 

 possess the same property. 



They are natives chiefly of the northern parts of the northern 

 hemisphere ; and according to the investigations of M. De Candolle, 

 the proportions in which they are found in different parts of the world 

 is as follows : — 



In the Old World 663 \ 



In America 159/ C In the Northern Hemisphere. 679 



In Australia 64 /"or | j^ jjjg Southern Ditto 205 



In Scattered Islands 14 ) 



Suborder 1. Orthosperm^. Albumen in front,flat,or nearly so. 



Tribe 1. Hydrocotyle^. Fruit with the sides very much flattened, 

 the back convex or acute. Albumen flat in front. Petals 

 spreading, entire, acute, with a straight or slightly inflexed point. 

 Umbels simple, or imperfect. 



