262 THE UMBELLATE FAMILY. 



larger. Fruits nearly sessile, attaining, when ripe, nearly half an inch, 

 covered with long, stout prickles. There are usually in each partial umbel 

 a few barren flowers on longer pedicels. 



A cornfield weed of southern origin, now widely spread over Europe and 

 Russian Asia. Apparently well established in some of the southern coun- 

 ties of England. Fl. with the corn. 



5. Broad Caucalis. Caucalis latifolia, Linn. 

 (Eng. Bot. t. 198.) 



Stem seldom a foot high, erect or spreading, and branched at the base. 

 Leaves much less divided than in the other species, being simply pinnate, 

 with oblong-lanceolate segments, the lowest above an inch long, and pin- 

 natifid, the others gradually diminishing to the top, and less deeply cut. 

 LTmbels terminal or opposite the leaves, on stout peduncles, consisting of 

 2 or more rays. Involucres, both general and partial, of broad, thin bracts. 

 Flowers white or purple, the outer petals large. Eruit 4 or 5 lines long, 

 the primary and secondary ribs equally prominent, with long, straight or 

 hooked prickles. 



In fields and waste places, in southern Europe and west-central Asia, 

 often establishing itscK for a time in more northern localities. Occasion- 

 ally found as a cornfield weed in several counties of England. Fl. with 

 the corn. 



XXXIV. CARROT. DAUCTJS. 



Leaves dissected. Umbels compound, with general and partial involucres 

 of several linear, pinnatifid or divided iDracts. Fruit ovoid, prickly on the 

 ribs, the 4 secondary ribs more prominent than the 3 primary dorsal ones. 

 Albumen not furrowed. 



A genus of very few real species, although the pubhshed forms are now 

 numerous ; they are widely spread over most cultivated or maritime parts 

 of the globe. 



1. Common Carrot. Daucus Carota, Linn. 

 (Eug. Bot. t. 1174.) 



An erect annual or biennial, 1 to 3 feet high, with a tap-root. Lower 

 leaves twice or thrice pinnate, with deeply 3-lobed or pinnatifid segments, 

 usually lanceolate or linear, sometimes short and crenate ; upper leaves with 

 fewer and narrower divisions. Umbels terminal, rather large, with nume- 

 rous crowded rays ; the inner ones very short, the outer much longer, and 

 usually closing over after flowering, so as to give a concave or globular form 

 to the umbel, with the fruit inside. Bracts of both involucres usually divided 

 into 3 or 5 long linear lobes. Fruit covered vrith prickles, of which the larger 

 ones are often much flattened at the base. 



Probably an original native of the seacoasts of southern Europe, but of 

 very ancient cultivation, and sows itself most readily, soon degenerating to 

 the wild form with a slender root, and now most abundant in fields, pas- 

 tures, waste places, etc., throughout Europe and Russian Asia. Common 

 in Britain, especially near the sea. Fl. the whole summer and autumn. A 

 decidedly maritime variety, with the leaves somewhat fleshy, with shorter 

 segments, more or less thickened peduncles, more spreading umbels, and 



