CHAPTER XXXI. 

 UMBELLIFEB^a:. 



I. General characters of the Order. — Inflorescence generally 

 a compound umbel ; flowers small, bisexual, usually regular and 

 epigynous. The outer flowers of the compound umbel are often 

 irregular and zygomorphic, the petals directed outwards being 

 larger than those pointing inwards. 



Calyx superior, often absent; when present it generally con- 

 sists of five minute tooth-like projections. Corolla polypetalous, 

 five petals, obcordate or obovate, usually curved inwards at the 

 free tip, mostly white, yellow, or pink. Androecium of five 

 stamens curved inwards in the young flower. Gynsecium in- 

 ferior, syncarpous, two carpels ; each carpel contains one pendul- 

 ous ovule. The ovary bears on its summit a fleshy swollen 

 nectary termed the stylopodium (d. Fig. 134). From the stylo- 

 podium arise two stigmas, which are often slightly curved 

 outwards. 



The line of union of the two carpels is known as the commissure 

 {c, D, Fig. 134). Each carpel frequently bears on its surface nine 

 more or less well-marked raised lines or ridges. Five of them are 

 described as primary ridges ; two of them, the margina/ ones, are 

 close to the commissure, the other three, dorsal ridges, being 

 regularly placed on the back or dorsal part of the carpel {D, Fig. 

 134). Sometimes occupying the spaces intermediate between 

 these five ridges are four secondary ridges, which are occasionally 

 as prominent or more so than the primary ones ; they are, how- 

 ever, often missing or but feebly developed. 



