286 UMBELLIFERx\E. 



pound (sometimes simple), usually much incised or divided. Flowers small, 

 in compound umbels, or the umbels sometimes simple or capitate. Umbels, 

 when compound, with the peduncle divided at summit into a number of rays, 

 each ray bearing a secondary umbel termed an umbellet. Umbellets commonly 

 subtended by bractlets (forming an involucel) ; rays commonly subtended by 

 bracts (forming an involucre). Calyx-tube wholly adnate to the ovary; calyx- 

 teeth small, sometimes obsolete. Petals 5, usually with an inflexed tip. Stamens 

 ."). inserted on an epigynous disk. Ovary inferior, 2-celled, one hanging ovule 

 in each cell. Styles 2, united below and forming a swollen or cushion-like base 

 (stylopodium). Fruit consisting of two carpels united by their faces (com- 

 missure), flattened laterally (i. e., flattened sidewise or contrary to the com- 

 missure), or flattened dorsally (i. e., each carpel flattened on the back or 

 parallel with the commissure), or not flattened at all. Each carpel with 5 ribs 

 or ridges, one down the back (dorsal rib), 2 on the edge near the commissure 

 (lateral ribs), and 2 between the dorsal and lateral ribs (intermediate ribs). 

 Between the ribs are the spaces called intervals: — the dorsal intervals are those 

 next to the dorsal rib; the lateral intervals are those next to the lateral ribs. 

 Beneath the intervals (in the tissue of the pericarp), as also on the com- 

 missural side or "face, " are oil-tubes. Carpels 1-seeded, splitting apart at 

 maturity, each borne on a filiform division of the receptacle (or carpophore) 

 which is prolonged between them. The "seed-face" is against the commissure. 

 Embryo small; endosperm cartilaginous. — The inflorescence is frequently ir- 

 regularly compound; in a few genera the fruit has no ribs, and in others no oil- 

 tubes. The number of oil-tubes in a given species, is, generally speaking, a 

 reliable character but it should be noted that there is here, also, more or 

 less variation. The character of the ribs and oil-tubes should be ascertained 

 by examination of perfectly mature fruit. — Many of the species are poisonous 

 or have poisonous parts, although many others, such as Parsley, Carrot and 

 Parsnip, have edible organs and are classed as food plants. 



A. Fruit covered with prickles, tubercles, or scales, or the ribs bristly. 

 Fruit bearing an elongated beak several times longer than the body; oil-tubes none; 



annuals 5. Scandix. 



Fruit not produced into a beak. 

 Oil-tubes obscure; perennials. 



Fruit covered with hyaline scales; ribs none; flowers greenish white or bluish, in 



dense peduncled heads; prickly herbs 3. Eryngium. 



Fruit bur-like, covered with hooked prickles; ribs none; flowers yellow, or purple in 



One species, mostly in head-like clusters 4. bANICULA. 



Fruit elongated, its ribs upwardly bristly; flowers white, in compound umbels 



6. OSMORRHIZA. 

 Oil-tubes conspicuous; flowers white; annuals or biennials. 

 Ribs armed with barbed or hooked bristles. 



Fruit somewhat flattened dorsally; calyx-teeth obsolete; umbels compound 



7. Daucus. 



Fruit flattened laterally; calyx-teeth obvious; umbels simple or nearly simple 



8. Caucalis. 

 Ribs inconspicuous; fruit papillate-roughened; umbels irregularly compound; di- or 



tri-chotomous branching annual 9. ApiASTRUM. 



B. Fruit not prickly. HOT tubcrcitlatc, nor scaly (sometimes hairy"). 



Leaves opposite; fruit ovate, turgid; ribs none; slender annuals 1. Howlesia. 



alternate or in a radical tuft; perennials or biennials. 

 Leaves simple; >tnn^ creeping; umbels simple or proliferous. 



orbicular <>r peltate; oil-tubes none 2. IIyorocotylk. 



Leaves consisting <>f hollow cylindrical petioles-, oil-tubes solitary 19. Lilaeopsis, 



res pinnately <>r ternately compound, or decompound; umbels compound. 



