352 



THE UMBELLATE FAMILY. 



^C\^2 



large, of 10 to 15 rays, with one or two 

 narrow bracts to the general one, and 

 partial involucres of a small number of 

 short, slender bracts. Fruits about 4 

 |^#' lines long. 



In mountain pastures, in western and 

 central Europe, not extending eastward 

 beyond the Russian frontier, nor north- 

 ward into Scandinavia. Not unfrequent 

 in the Scotch Highlands, in northern 

 England and North Wales, but not re- 

 corded from Ireland. Fl. summer. 



Fig. 425. 



XXIII. SAMPHIRE. CKITHMUM. 



Leaves succulent, dissected. Umbels compound, with general and 

 partial involucres. Petals entire. Fruit ovoid, not compressed, with- 

 out distinct calycine teeth. Carpels of a thick, succulent or somewhat 

 corky consistence, with 5 acute ribs, becoming prominent when dry, 

 but not winged ; the vittas numerous, slender, and irregular. Seeds 

 loose in the cavity, with numerous fine vittas on the outside. 



A single species, very different from any other British Umbellate, 

 but closely allied to the large Mediterranean and Asiatic genus Cachrys, 

 with which some botanists unite it. 



1. Sea Samphire. Crithmum maritimum, Linn. (Fig. 426.) 



(Eng. Bot. t. 819.) 



A perfectly glabrous perennial, seldom above a foot high, almost 

 woody at the base ; the young branches, foliage, and umbels, thick 

 and fleshy. Leaves twice or thrice ternate, with thick linear segments 

 about an inch long. Umbels of 15 to 20 or even more rays. Involucres 

 of several small linear or lanceolate bracts. Petals very minute, and 

 soon disappearing. Fruits about 3 lines long. 



