PLANT DESCRIPTION 243 
poisonous. The epigynous condition, the protandrous 
flower, the form of inflorescence and the reduction of 
the ovules to one in each cell are all advanced 
characteristics. 
Floral Formula—tK (5) C5 A5 G (3). 
NEW ZEALAND EXAMPLES. 
1, Hydrocotyle—A small creeping herb with 
simple rounded leaves and flowers in simple umbels 
of a very few flowers; has a considerable number of 
species in New Zealand. 
2. Creeping celery (apium prostratum) is found 
plentifully in many places on the sea coast, and may 
easily be recognised by its smell. 
3. Spear-grass (Aciphylla) is, however, the most 
striking of the New Zealand umbellifere. There are 
several native species in all of which the leaves are 
pinnately divided, the leaflets in most cases being 
spiny. 
The umbels are not flat-topped, as is usually the 
ease in this order, but are massed in compact panicles. 
The flowers are generally dicecious. 
CoMMON UMBELLIFERS. 
1, Parsnip (Pastinaca sativa) cultivated for its fleshy 
tap-root. 
2. Celery (Apiwm graveolens) cultivated for the 
fleshy petioles. 
3. Parsley (Carum petroselinum) cultivated for its 
leaves, which are used as garnishing and dressings. 
4. Carrot (Daucus carota) for fleshy tap-root. 
5. Caraway (Carum carui) used for its fruits. 
6. Hemlock (Coniwm maculatum), now well estab- 
lished as a weed in many places in the neighbourhood 
of Auckland, is a glabrous herb with hollow stems 
often reaching a height of three feet. The lower 
portion of the stem is often spotted with purple. If 
