LX. UMBELLIFER®. 
713 
Order LX. UMBELLIFER^). 
Calyx-tube adnate to the ovary; limb forming a slightly raised line round the 
summit, or 5-toothed or lobed, or quite inconspicuous. Petals 5, usually indexed 
at the tip, more or less imbricate or very rarely valvate in the bud. Stamens 5, 
alternating with the petals and inserted with them round the epigynous disk at 
the summit of the adnate calyx-tube; anthers versatile, with parallel cells opening 
longitudinally. Epigynous disk within the stamens usually 2-lobed, variously 
shaped, free from the styles or confluent with their thickened base and therefore 
the disk-lobes often called stylopodes. Ovary inferior, 2-celled or very rarely 
1 -celled by abortion, with 1 anatropous ovule in each cell, pendulous from the 
summit. Styles 2, with small terminal stigmas. Fruit usually separating into 
2 indehiscent 1-seeded nut5 or carpels, called mericarpx, often leaving a persistent 
filiform central axis called a carpophore, either entire or splitting into two. Each 
carpel is marked with longitudinal ribs, of which the primary ones (corresponding 
with the calyx-teeth and intervening sinuses) are normally 5 to each carpel, i.e., 2 
lateral (one on each side) at the commissure or junction of the two carpels, 1 dorsal 
on the back of the carpel, and 2 intermediate between the dorsal and lateral one on 
each side, but some of these are occasionally inconspicuous, and in some genera 4 
secondary ribs to each carpel, between the primary ones, are as conspicuous or 
more prominent than the primary ones. In many genera there are longitudinal 
linear oil-vessels called vittcc, within or under the pericarp. Seed often adhering 
to the pericarp ; testa very thin ; albumen horny, filling the seed or furrowed or 
excavated on the inner face (next the commissure). Embryo minute near the 
apex of the seed, with the radicle superior. — Herbs or very rarely shrubs, with 
alternate leaves, often much cut or divided, the petiole usually dilated into a 
sheathing base, but without distinct stipules, except in Hydrocotyle. Flowers 
usually small, in terminal or lateral (leaf-opposed) umbels, which are either 
compound, each ray of the general umbel bearing a partial umbel, or simple or 
reduced to a globular head. Bracts at the base of the general umbel, either one 
under each ray or fewer, termed the general involucre, and one or three or more 
under the partial umbel termed the involucel or partial involucre, or one or both 
involucres wanting. Flowers frequently more or less polygamous, some, in the 
same or different umbels from the perfect ones, being males by the constant 
abortion of the ovary, and occasionally one or a few in the centre of the umbel 
females without stamens. 
A numerous Order, more or less represented nearly all over the globe, especially in the 
temperate region of the northern hemisphere, where the delimitation of the very numerou 
genera presents the greatest difficulties. — Benth. 
Series I. Heterosciadiae.— Umbels simple or irreyularly compound. Vitt<c none. Seeds 
laterally compressed. 
Tribe I. Hydrotyleae. — Fruit laterally compressed ; commissure narrow. 
Creeping perennials or slender annuals with scarious stipules 1. Hydrocotyle. 
Annuals or perennials with dissected or toothed leaves without stipules. 
Fruit very flat 2. Trachymene. 
Leafless plant with rush-like stems 3. Siebera. 
Umbels compound, sometimes reduced to 1 or 2 flowers with bracts under the 
flower as well as under the pedicel. 
Calyx-teeth small or inconspicuous. Perennials or shrubs, usually glabrous. 
Leaves entire or ternately divided into small narrow lobes. Involucral 
bracts small 3. Siebera. 
Calyx-lobes peltate, cordate or usually attached by the whole of their broad 
base. Herbs villous or glabrous. Leaves toothed, lobed or divided, or 
rarely entire. Involucral bracts conspicuous 4. Xanthosia. 
Tribe II. Saniculeas. — Fruits scarcely compressed or compressed dorsally, without vie 
usually furrowed at the commissure. Seed terete or dorsally compressed. 
Umbels simple. Ovary and fruit of a single ovule and seed 5. Actixotur. 
1 leads of flowers simple, dense. Leaf-lobes and involucral bracts rigid and 
pungent-pointed Eryxoium, 
