342 



THE UMBELLATE FAMILY. 



4. Falcate Buplever. Buplevrum falcatum, Linn. 

 (Fig. 415.) 



(Eng. Bot. Suppl. t. 2763.) 



Stems stiff and erect, sligktly branched, 

 1 to 1| feet high, forming at the base a 

 short perennial stock. Leaves linear 

 and grasslike, the radical ones often 

 stalked and rather broader. Umbels 

 terminal and compound, of 4 to 8 rays ; 

 the general involucre of 3 or 4 oblong or 

 lanceolate bracts, very much shorter 

 than the rays ; those of the partial invo- 

 lucres also lanceolate, of a yellowish 

 green, scarcely as long as the flowers. 



In open woods, bushy wastes, and 

 heaths, abundant in the hilly districts of 

 central and southern Europe, and in cen- 

 tral and temperate Russian Asia, but 

 scarcely further to the north than south- 

 ern Belgium. In Britain, only on Norton 

 Heath, near Ongar, in Essex. FL 

 August. 



Fig. 415. 



XVI. CEWANTH. (ENANTHE. 



Leaves dissected. Umbels compound, with partial and sometimes 

 also general involucres, of several small, narrow bracts. Flowers of 

 the circumference usually barren and with larger petals ; the fertile 

 ones in the centre sessile, or on very short, often thickened pedicels. 

 Petals notched, with an inflected point. Fruits from ovate to narrow- 

 oblong, crowned with the 5 small calycine teeth. Carpels somewhat 

 corky, with 5 obtusely convex ribs, and single vittas under the furrows. 



A rather natural genus, spread over Europe, Asia, and North 

 America, most of the species frequenting wet meadows, and marshes, 

 or even growing in water. 



Segments of the upper leaves few, long and linear. 



Stems very hollow. Central umbel fertile, of 3 rays ; those 



of the branches barren, of several rays 1. Common 



(E. 



