104 



NATURAL HISTORY 0^ PLANTS. 



the centre of the umbel with dissimilar mericarps, one becoming 

 cuplike or urceolate with a deep concavity, while the other remains 

 normal or becomes more or less completely abortive. Except Poly- 

 tcenia, the Tordyliums belong to temperate Asia and Europe and North 

 Africa ; they are nearly all annuals. 



Tordi/lium syriacum. 



Fig. 96. Trans, sect, of fruit (f). 



Angelica sylvestris. 



Fig. 97. Fruit. 



Fig. 98. Trans, sect. 

 of ftuit (f). 



The Angelicas (fig. 97-99) have given this name to a small group 

 (Angelicece) referred by some authors to the series of Peucedanece, and 



by others to that of Seselinem. 

 With us they connect the two, 

 as do certain other types ordi- 

 narily attributed to the Sese- 

 linem. The characteristic of 

 the latter is considered to be 

 the earlier separation of the 

 two corresponding margins of 

 their carpels, whilst in the 

 Peucedanece this separation is later. We shall see that in certain 

 cases this is a point difficult to appreciate, and one on which the 

 distinction of two tribes cannot be firmly based. We may mention 

 that the same is true of the form and thickening of the mericarps, 

 often identical in the two groups. The Angelicas may then be defined 

 as Peucedanece- with white or purple flowers, the petals of which are 

 often narrowed to a short and inflexed point, and ovoid fruit, more or 

 less compressed at the back, whose primary ridges are but little 

 prominent, especially the lateral which form a membranous and 

 bilamellate wing. There is one vitta in each furrow, whilst there are 

 several in Angelica officinalis (fig. 99), for this reason generically dis- • 

 tinguished under the name Archangelica, but which we can retain 



