UMBELLIITEJRjE. 



327 



almost every botanist who has studied Umbellates, and which has now 

 no claims to be considered either natural or definite. It might be 

 made more so if extended so as to comprise Helosciad, and several 

 small exotic ones. ...... 



1. Celery Apium. Apium graveolens, Linn. (Fig. 397.) 

 (Eng. Bot. t. 1210. Celery.) 



In its wild state not a stout plant ; 

 quite glabrous, 1 to 2 feet high. Leaves 

 pinnate, with 3 or 5 distinct, broad seg- 

 ments, crenate or 3-lobed, from 6 to 9 

 lines long, the upper leaves very small. 

 Umbels small, nearly sessile on the 

 upper branches opposite the leaves, or 

 on very short terminal peduncles sel- 

 dom 2 lines above the last leaves ; di- 

 vided into from 3 to 6 rays, and bearing 

 numerous small flowers on short pedicels. 

 Fruits very small, the vittas often very 

 indistinct. 



In marshy places near the sea, on the 

 coasts of Europe, Africa, western Asia, 

 and America, but not in high northern 

 latitudes. In Britain it extends as far 

 north as the southern counties of Scot- 

 land, and is occasionally found inland, 

 but then mostly escaped from cultiva- 

 tion. Fl. summer. The Celery of our gardens is a cultivated va- 

 riety, in which the leafstalk and base of the stem acquire a consider- 

 able size. 



Fig. 397. 



VII. HELOSCIAD. HELOSCIADIUM. 



Leaves dissected. Umbels compound, with partial involucres, and 

 sometimes a general one also. Flowers and fruit of Apium, except 

 that there are no vittas on the face of the carpels next the axis. 



A small genus, including some American, besides the European and 

 Asiatic species, but which in a general revision would probably all be 

 united with Apium. 



