Umbeliifere—A strantia. 211 
lobes. Bracts and flowers pink or white. Central and Southern 
Europe, and occasionally as a garden outcast in this country. 
There are several varieties of this, some more highly coloured 
than others, and the best are worthy of a place in every garden. 
4, TRACHYMENE (Didiscus). 
This is an Australasian genus of few species, with the 
flowers in simple umbels, and the fruit very much flattened 
laterally. From tpayvs, rough, and dujv, a membrane or skin. 
1. T. cerilea, better known as Didiscus cwrileus.—This is 
the only familiar ornamental annual species of this family. 
It grows from 1 to 2 feet high. Leaves triternately divided 
into linearsegments. Flowers bright blue. Fruit tubercular. 
5. FERULA. 
Gigantic herbs with large much-divided leaves and tall 
branched inflorescence. Umbels compound; fruit dorsally com- 
pressed, almost flat, laterally winged. Natives of the Mediter- 
ranean region and Central Asia. The classical name. 
1. F. communis (fig. 113). Giant Fennel.—This is ex- 
Fig. 113, Ferula communis. 
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