Umbelliferce 



167 



Wild Service-tree. The exotic genus Cydonia yields us the 

 Quince. 



From many of the plants of this sub-order also prussic acid 

 is obtainable. 



UMBELLIFER^. 



Typical plant, Cow-parsnip {Heradeum Sphondyliuni). 



Note, the stem is herbaceous, hollow, except at the nodes ; 

 leaves alternate, sheathing at base, bi- or tri-pinnate (leaves in 

 the order are generally much divided) ; flowers in compound 

 umbels (in Hydrocotyle the umbels are simple, in Sanicula and 

 Eryngium the flowers are arranged in tufted heads) ; calyx 

 adherent to ovary, free limb absent, or as five small teeth ; 

 corolla polypetalous, five petals, epigynous ; stamens five, 

 epigynous ; pistil inferior, 

 two cells, two styles ; fruit a 

 cremocarp. 



This is a very large and 

 wide-spread order, easily 

 recognisable by its umbel- 

 late flowers and two-celled 

 ovary with cremocarp. The 

 plants of the order are, 

 however, very difficult to 

 identify, as the distinctions 

 of the genera and species 

 depend principally upon 

 small points of detail in the 

 structure of the seed and 

 the fruit. 



The properties of the 

 order are very various ; 

 some members yield us food plants, others are very poisonous ; 

 and again others yield useful drugs. 



Principal British Plants. 

 Angelica. Fruit two flattened carpels united by their faces, 

 with three sharp ridges at the back of each, and two at the 



Fig. 303. — I. j^ihnsa Cynapium (Fool's-pars- 

 ley). II. Fruit. III. Section of fruit. 



