228 



CLASSIFICATION 



forms an additional attraction to insects. Nectar is 

 secreted by tiie epigynous disk, and lies freely exposed 

 in the middle of the flower. As most species are 

 protandrous, cross-pollination by insects is favoured. 

 The aromatic odour of many species serves to protect 

 them from the attack of grazing animals, as is often 



evidenced in vegetable 

 gardens where clumps 

 of these plants are 

 grown here and there 

 to scare away the 

 cattle. The flowers of 

 the circumference of 

 an umbel sometimes 

 have their outwardly- 

 directed petals en- 

 larged, a contrivance 

 by which the otherwise 

 inconspicuous small 

 umbellate flowers are 

 rendered conspicuous. 

 This enlargement of 



Tig. igj.—Pa7iax Pseudo-gmseng petals Of the ClrCUm- 



ference-flowers takes 

 place sometimes at the sacrifice of the stamens and 

 carpels. 



Nat. Order 17. Araliacece.— Trees, shrubs, rarely 

 herbs, nearly allied to Umbelliferce, from which they 

 are distinguished in having often more than 2 carpels 

 forming the ovary, and in the fruit not separating 

 into 2 halves, but becoming drupaceous. Panax 

 fruticosum, with its decompound or dissected sheath- 

 ing leaves, is a shrub cultivated in most gardens for 

 its foliage. Panax Pseudo-ginseng, Wall. (fig. 197), 

 is a herb met with in the Khasi Hills. Helwtngia 



