302 The Natural System of Botany. 



stalk divides at the top into a number of rays, proceeding ljk e 

 the sticks of an umbrella from a common centre. Each of 

 these rays is again subdivided into others, on which the flo\v er8 

 are borne. The whole constitutes a compound umbel, and 

 this is characteristic of the order. The stems are almost alwavs 

 hollow, and the leaves much divided. The flowers are usually 

 small, and require a lens for the examination of their parts, 

 The border of the minute calyx has five indentations, being 

 composed of five adherent sepals, which also adhere to the 

 ovary. The five petals are inserted on the tube of the calvx 

 and between them arise five stamens. The styles are tw 

 and the ovary is two-celled, and two-seeded. These charac- 

 ters are nearly invariable, so that most of the order belong to 

 Pentandria, Digynia of the Linnsean arrangement. In the 

 ripe fruit the seeds adhere to the inside of the ovary, whose 

 two divisions separate and form two grains, which are usually 

 called seeds, though really consisting of the carpels enclosed in 

 the tube of the calyx. In this envelope are secreted the essen- 

 tial oils which give their taste to the Caraway, Anise, 

 Fennel, &c. 



Few tribes of plants are better known to us than this, on ac- 

 count of the numerous useful species which it contains. The 

 Carrot, Parsnip, Celery, Eryngo, Angelica. Lovage, Caraway, 

 Coriander, Dill, Anise, are much esteemed species, some of 

 which are extensively cultivated as food. It is not common 

 that an order so well marked as this, contains plants of such 

 opposite properties ; but we have here, associated with those 

 already mentioned, the Hemlock, one of the most deadly of 

 plants, the Drop-wort, the FooPs-Parsley, and others of a simi- 

 lar nature. The poisonous properties of these are owing to an 

 acrid and narcotic principle, which is found especially in the 

 roots. This principle, in the wild Celery, is removed by the 

 process of blanching; see page 284. Many Umbellifene of 

 warm climates 5 afford valuable medicinal gums, distinguished 

 by their powerful and foetid odor. Of these, Assafoetida, and 

 Galbanum are most in use, and are considered excellent reme- 

 dies in hysteric and spasmodic complaints. The former is the 

 inspissated juice of the roots of a Persian species of Ferula. 



The number of species of Umbelliferse is estimated at nine 



