5>J0 BOTANT. 



as a salad. The poisonous herbage, when deprived of ils green color by 

 covering with earth, is rendered wholesome. 



Among the aromatic and medicinal products may be mentioned Cara- 

 way, Coriander, Cummin, Fennel {Fosniculum vulgare), Dill, Aniseed, 

 etc. 



Ferula Asafatida is a tall growing plant of Thibet and the western 

 parts of Asia. The dried and hardened milky juice of the root is the 

 nauseous smelling Gum Asafoetida. It is said that the Persians hold 

 it in high esteem as a condiment. Gum Ammoniacuni, Gum Galbanum, 

 Gum Opopanax, and some other gum rcsins are similar strong smelling 

 products of other plants of the same region. 



Conium maeulatum, Poison Hemlock, a native of Europe, but 

 naturalized in the United States, is virulently poisonous. It is sup- 

 posed to be the Hemlock used by the Greeks to poison their criminals 

 and other offenders. 



Cieuia maeulata. Water Hemlock, and ^Ihusa Cynapium, Fool's 

 Parsley, are two common poisonous plants, the first a native, of the 

 Eastern United States, the second introduced from Europe. 



Monizia edulis, of the Madeiras, is a low tree, and in Australia spe- 

 cies of Xanthosia, 2'rachymene, Astrolrichia, etc., are shrubs or small 

 trees. 



591.— Cohort XXIII. Piepidales. Flowers usually actin- 

 omorphic ; ovary mostly inferior, one- to many-celled ; pla- 

 centa parietal, basilar or axile ; seeds with or without endo- 

 sperm. 



Order IFicoideee. — Mostly herbs, often with fleshy leaves. Species 

 450, mostly tropical, represented in the United States by the Carpet- 

 weed {Mollugo verticillata). 



Mesembryanthemum crystallinum, the Ice Plant, is commonly culti- 

 vated as a curiosity. 



Order Cactaceae. — The Cactus Family. Succulent herbs, shrubs, 

 or trees, often spiny, and generally leafless. About 1 000 species are 

 enumerated, all American (with one or two exceptions), and mostly 

 tropical. Several of the species are common in many parts of the Old 

 World, having long since escaped from cultivation. 



Many of tlie species are grown in conservatories for tlieir fine flow 

 ers, as well as on account of their curious shapes. Gereus grandi- 

 florus, the Night Blooming Cereus ; Opuntia vulgaris, the common 

 Prickly Pear ; 0. cqccineUifera, and others, are common. The last- 

 named Is fed upon by the Cochineal Insect, from which the dye Carmine 

 is derived. 



The fleshy fruits of some species are edible. 



592.— Cohort XXIV. Passiflorales. — Flowers usually ac- 

 tinomorphic ; ovary usually inferior, syncarpous, one-celled. 



