PARSLEY FAMILY 171 
since the flowers are so much alike that the species are dis- 
tinguished from each other mainly by minute characteristics 
of the fruit.] 
I. ERYNGIUM L. 
Annual, biennial, or perennial herbs. Stems erect or creep- 
ing. Leaves simple, mostly linear and spiny-toothed. Flowers 
white or blue, in dense, bracted heads or spikes, flowers brac- 
teolate. Calyx teeth rigid, persistent. Petals erect, pointed. 
Styles slender. Fruit top-shaped, sealy or granular; ribs 
wanting; oil tubes usually 5, minute.* 
Fic. 26. Flower and fruit of Umbelliferce 
A-D, Carum Carvi: A, flower; B, partly matured pistil; C, mature fruit; 
D, cross section of fruit. #, fruitof parsnip; F’, fruit of carrot. c, carpels; 
cp, carpophore, or stalk to which ripe carpels are attached; d, disk: 0, oil 
tubes; ov, ovary; s, stigmas. (4-J, after Schnizlein; £, after Bischoff) 
1. E. yuccifolium Michx. Burron SNAKEROOT, RATTLESNAKE 
Master. Perennial. Stem erect, branched above, striate, covered 
with a bloom, 2-3 ft. high. Leaves linear, often 2 ft. or more in 
