UMBELLIFEE^. 241 



almost every botanist who lias studied JJmhellates, and which has now no 

 clauns to be considered either natural or definite. It might be made more 

 so if extended so as to comprise Helosciad, and several small exotic ones. 



1. Celery Apinm. Apium graveolens, Linn. 

 (Eng. Bot. t. 1210. Celery.) 



In its wild state not a stout plant ; quite glabrous, 1 to 2 feet high. 

 Leaves pinnate, with 3 or 5 distinct, broad segments, crenate or 3-lobed, 

 fi-om 6 to 9 hues long, the upper leaves very smaU. Umbels small, nearly 

 sessile on tlie upper branches opposite the leaves, or on very short terminal 

 peduncles seldom 2 lines above the last leaves ; divided into from 3 to 6 

 rays, and bearing nmnerous small flowers on short pedicels. Fruits very 

 small, the vittas often very indistinct. 



In marshy places near the sea, on the coasts of Europe, Airica, western 

 Asia, and America, but not in high northern latitudes. In Britain it ex- 

 tends as far north as the southern counties of Scotland, and is occasionally 

 found inland, but then mostly escaped from cultivation. Fl. summer. The 

 Celery of our gardens is a cultivated variety, in which the leafstalk and 

 base of the stem acquire a considerable size. 



YII. HEX.OSCIAD. HELOSCIADIUM. 



Leaves dissected. Umbels compound, with partial involucres, and some- 

 times a general one also. Flowers and fruit of Apium, except that there 

 are no vittas on the face of the carpels next the axis. 



A small genus, including some American, besides the European and 

 Asiatic species, but which in a general revision would probably ah be united 

 with Apium. 



Leaves of several pairs of ovate or lanceolate toothed segments. 



Bays of the umbel about .5 or 6 1. Frocumbenf H. 



Leaf-segments few, usually lobed or divided. Hays of the umbel 



about 3 or 4 ... " 2. Lesser S. 



1. Procumbent Helosciad. Helosciadium uodiflorum, Koch. 



{Sium, Eng. Bot. t. 639.) 



Stems perennial, creeping, and rooting at the base, the annual flowering 

 branches ascending or nearly erect ; attaining several feet in some situa- 

 tions, but usuaUy very much shorter, the whole plant glabrous. Leaves with 

 8 to 10 or more pairs of ovate or lanceolate toothed segments. X^mbels 

 nearly sessile or on short peduncles, either opposite to the leaves or be- 

 tween the upper branches, each with 5 or 6, or rarely as many Ss 8 or as 

 few as 4 rays. General involucre usuaUy wanting, but sometimes consist- 

 ing of 3 or 4 narrow-lanceolate bracts ; partial involucre of several small, 

 lanceolate bracts. 



In marshy meadows, and wet ditches, in western and southern Em-ope ; 

 scarcely eastward of the Rhine in central Europe, but extends nearly all 

 roimd the Jlediterranean. Abundant in England, Ireland, and southern 

 Scotland. Fl. summer. It varies much in size and foliage ; when very 

 luxuriant the leaf-segments are numerous, narrow, fi'om 1 to \\ inches 

 long ; in half-dried up, open ditches the plant is small, much branched, 

 with 3 to 5 small, broad segments ; it wUl then also creep much more, 

 has the peduncles rather longer, and has been considered as a distinct 



T 



