NATURAL FAMILIES. 
171 
Class 11. 
Dicotyledons. Corolla monopetalous, epigynous (above the 
germ.) Anthers distinct. 
The most important family in this class is the Rubiacece 
which contains the genus Galium, and some other important 
genera, not distinguished by striking peculiarities ot natural 
character. 
Class 12. 
Dicotyledons. Corolla polypetalous , stamens epigynous , 
(above the germ.) 
This class presents us with one important family, the Umbel- 
late ( Umbelliferce.) 
The plants of this natural family are found in the artificial 
class Pentandria ; they derive their name from the Latin word 
umbella , an umbrella, on account of the manner in which the 
peduncles of flower stalks grow out from the main stem. 
The umbellate! plants are mostly herbaceous, those which 
grow on dry ground are aromatic, as dill, fennel, and caraway ; 
those which grow in w r et places, or the aquatic species, are 
among the most deadly poisons, as water-hemlock, &c. Plants 
of this family are not in general so beautiful to the sight, nor so 
interesting as objects of botanical analysis, as many others.* 
The corolla is superior, or over the germ, consisting of five 
petals, usually with a stamen standing between each petal. 
From the centre of the flower arise two styles which often re- 
main permanent upon the fruit. The general figure of the fruit 
is oblong or oval ; it separates perpendicularly into two seeds, 
as may be seen in the fennel or dill. The figure, margin, and 
angles of the seeds are considered as affording proper charac- 
ters for the distinction of genera, as in the parsnip, they aie 
flat, in the carrot, bristly, in the hendock, marked with ridges. 
Among the plants of this .family which are used as articles of 
“* Botanists in general shrink from the study of the Umbellifera ; nor 
have these plants much beauty in the eyes of amateurs ; but thfcy will re- 
pay the trouble of a careful observation. The late M. Cusson of Montpel- 
lier bestowed more pains upon them than any other botanist has ever done; 
but the world has, as yet been favoured with only a part of his remarks. 
His labours met with a most ungrateful check, in the unkindness, and still 
more mortifying stupidity of his wife, who, in his absence from home, is 
recorded to have destroyed his whole herbarium, scraping off the dried 
specimens for the sake of the paper on which they were pasted !” — Sir 
James Edicard Smith's Botany. 
Class 11th. Dicotyledons — Corolla monopetalous, epigynous — Rubiacece 
— Class 12th — Dicotyledons — Corolla polypetalous — Stamens eyigynous — 
Umbellifcrae — Umbellate plants in dry soils, aromatic ; in wet, poisonous. 
