umbelliferj:. 



'323 



A genus of very few species, but widely spread over a great part of 

 the globe without the tropics. They are all readily distinguished 

 among irregular Umbellates by their burr-like fruit. 



1. Wood Sanicle. Sanicula europsea, Linn. (Fig. 392.) 

 (Eng. Bot. t. 

 Rootstock short, almost woody. Radical 

 leaves on long stalks, 1 to 2 inches dia- 

 meter, deeply divided into about 5 pal- 

 mate segments or lobes, each one obovate 

 or wedge-shaped, dentate or lobed, the 

 teeth ending in a fine point, and often 

 ciliate at the edge ; the whole plant other- 

 wise glabrous. Stems 1 to 1| feet high, 

 leafless or with small trifid leaves or 

 bracts under the branches of the panicle. 

 This usually consists of 3 short branches, 

 each with a single small head of flowers, 

 with a longer branch lower down the 

 stem bearing 3 small heads, but some- 

 times there are more 3-headed branches 

 forming an irregular umbel. At the time 

 of flowering, the calyx-teeth almost con- 

 ceal the petals ; as the fruit ripens into 

 little burrs of about 2 lines, the prickles 

 almost conceal the calyx-teeth. 



In woods, throughout Europe except the extreme north, extending 

 eastward into central Asia. Frequent in Britain. Fl. summer. 



Fig. 392. 



III. ASTRANTIA. ASTRANTIA. 



Herbs, with a perennial rootstock, and palmately divided leaves, 

 mostly radical. Umbels compact, irregularly compound, with general 

 and partial involucres of several coloured bracts. Flowers often uni- 

 sexual. Fruit ovoid or oblong, somewhat compressed laterally, 

 crowned by the long pointed teeth of the calyx. Carpels with 5 plaited 

 or crimped ribs, and without vittas. 



A small genus, extending over central and southern Europe to the 

 Caucasus. The foliage and involucels, as well as the fruit, mark it 

 out as a very distinct group in the family. 



1. Larger Astrantia. Astrantia major, Linn. (Fig. 393.) 



Radical leaves like those of the Sanicle, but larger, with more pointed 



2 c 2 



