210 SYSTEMATIC BOTANY. 



3, Umbelliferae. The Parsley family. Flowers in 

 umbels, styles two. Fruit consists of two seed-like dry 

 carpels (mericarps). Leaves usually much dissected. 

 Herbs, rarely shrubs or trees. Species thirteen hundred, 

 ■widely distributed ; most abundant in Northern Europe 

 aud Asia. Many contain an acrid poisonous principle, 

 especially in the green parts; fruits often aromatic and 

 innoxious. Among the aromatic and medicinal fruits are 

 Caraway {Carum carvi). Coriander (Coriandrum sativum), 

 Cumin {Oimiinwn sativum), Anise-seed {PimpineUa Ani- 

 sum). Edible roots are furnished by the Carrot {Dauaus 

 earota). Parsnip {Pastinaca sativa) ; edible stems and leaves, 

 used as salads or for flavoring, are Celery {Apium grave- 

 olens), Parsley {A. petroselinum), Fennel (Foeniculum vul- 

 gave), etc. The important resinous gums obtained from 

 the milky juice are Asafoetida (from Ferula Asafcetida of 

 Thibet), Gum-Ammoniacum (from Dorema ammoniaca of 

 Western Asia), and Gum-Galbauum (from Ferula galhani- 

 flora of Asia). Some of our native species, as Poison 

 Hemlock {Conium maculatum), Water Hemlock {Oicida 

 maculata), and Fool's Parsley (^thusa Oynapium), are 

 very poisonous. Some shrubby or arborescent representa- 

 tives grow in the Madeiras and Australia. 



4. Cactaceae. The Cactus family consists of about 

 one thousand, mostly Tropical American, species of succu- 

 lent herbs, shrubs or trees, often spiny, and generally 

 leafless, with solitary sessile flowers. The family is 

 remarkable for the curious aspect of the plants, and for 

 the fine flowers furnished by such as the Night Blooming 

 Cereus (Cerem grandiflorus), and other species of the 

 genera Cereus, Opuntia, Echinocactus, etc. The Cochineal 



•insect inhabits Opuntia coccinellifera and other species 

 found in Mexico. 



