THE PARSLEY FAMILY 
[ORDER XXXIV. UMBELLIFER^E] 
T HIS order has some very marked characteristics, which serve to distinguish it from all 
other orders. The little flowers are clustered in simple or usually compound umbels ; 
the flowers have 5 sepals, petals, and stamens, and 2 carpels to which the sepals adhere; and 
the fruit is placed below the petals and stamens (inferior), and consists of 2 hard cases, each 
containing 1 hanging seed. Added to this the leaf-stalks are usually dilated into a sheath at the 
base, and the leaves are usually much divided. 
It is a large order, well represented in the British Isles, thriving in the temperate climate of 
the Northern Hemisphere, in Southern Europe, Northern Africa, and Western Asia, less abundant 
in tropical or cold regions. A few species are cultivated in our gardens, various species of 
Eryngium and Astrantia. A species of Heracleum — Heracleum giganticum — is well known in 
shrubberies. Others are useful as vegetables and flavourings, such as the Carrot, Parsnip, Celery, 
Parsley, Fennel, Samphire, Caraway, and Angelica. In its wild state Celery (Apium graveolens) is 
poisonous, but when blanched it is wholesome and nutritious. Samphire (Crithmum maritimum) 
makes an excellent pickle, and the stems of Angelica are palatable when candied. 
MARSH PENNYWORT. (HYDROCOTYLE, LINN.) — Flowers small, usually in clusters of 
shortly-stalked flowers, all starting from the same point on the main stalk (simple umbels). Calyx 
entirely combined with the seedcase ; petals 5, pointed, not bent inwards ; stamens 5 ; carpels 2. 
Fruit of 2 united, small, dry, roundish, flattened cases, each containing 1 hanging seed (cremo- 
carp). Herbs, often growing in water (aquatic), with undivided (simple), roundish leaves, often 
united at the base so that the stalk appears to be inserted underneath the leaf (peltate), and leaf- 
stalks sheathing at the base. 
Marsh Pennywort, White Rot. (Hydrocotyle vulgaris, Linn.)— The only British 
species (as just described). The flowers minute, pinkish, in clusters of shortly-stalked flowers 
starting from the same point on the main stalk (simple umbels), very unnoticeable, and never 
rising above the leaves ; the stem whitish, creeping, often nearly buried in mud ; the leaves 
undivided, roundish, scalloped, or faintly lobed, shining, on long stalks which are inserted 
underneath the leaf in the centre (peltate), and slightly sheathing at the base. \Plate 50. 
Common in bogs and marshes. June — August. Perennial. 
SANICLE. (SANICULA, LINN.) — Flowers pinkish-white, in clusters of shortly-stalked flowers, all 
rising from the same point on unequal stalks, which have one common starting-point on the main 
flower-stalk (compound umbel), with small leafy bracts below each entire cluster, and numerous 
entire bracts round each little flower cluster. Calyx with 5 lance-shaped teeth ; petals 5, oblong, 
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