PARSLEY FAMILY 



171 



since the flowers are so much alike that the species are dis- 

 tinguished from each other mainly by minute characteristics 

 of the fruit.j 



I. ERYNGIUM L. 



Annual, biennial, or perennial herbs. Stems erect or creep- 

 ing. Leaves simple, mostly linear and spiny-toothed. Flowers 

 white or blue, in dense, bracted heads or spikes, flowers brac- 

 teolate. Calyx teeth rigid, persistent. Petals erect, pointed. 

 Styles slender. Fruit top-shaped, scaly or granular ; ribs 

 wanting ; oil tubes usually 6, minute.* 



Tig. 26. Flower and fruit of UmbellifercB 



A-D, Carum Carvi: A, flower; B, partly matured pistil; C, mature fruit; 

 i), cross section of fruit. JE, fruit of parsnip; ^, fruit of carrot, c, carpels; 

 cp, carpophore, or stalk to which ripe carpels are attached ; d, disk ; o, oil 

 tubes; ov, ovary; s, stigmas. {A-D, after Schnizlein; jB, after Bischoff) 



1. E. jruccifolium Michx. Button Snakeroot, Rattlesnake 

 Master. Perennial. Stem erect, branched above, striate, covered 

 with a bloom, 2-3 ft. high. Leaves linear, often 2 ft. or more in 



