UMBELLIFERAE. 643 
Family LX XVII. UMBELLIFERAE. 
Herbs, very rarely climbing or shrubby, often aromatic when bruised. 
Stems often grooved or channelled, solid or hollow. Leaves alternate, 
usually much cut and divided but sometimes simple and entire ; petiole 
dilated and sheathing at the base; stipules wanting (except in Hydro- 
cotyle). Flowers small, hermaphrodite or occasionally polygamous, in 
terminal or lateral umbels which are either simple or compound. Umbels 
usually furnished at the base with a ring of bracts, those below the 
primary (or general) umbel forming the involucre, those below the secondary 
(or partial) ones constituting the involucel. Calyx adnate to the ovary, 
limb either obsolete or 5-toothed. Petals 5, inserted at the margin of an 
epigynous disc, the outer often larger, imbricate or valvate, usually in- 
flexed at the tip. Stamens 5, epigynous; filaments curved inwards. Disa 
epigynous, often 2-lobed and confluent with the base of the styles. Ovary 
inferior, 2-celled; styles 2, distinct; ovules 1 in each cell, pendulous. 
Fruit of 2 dry indehiscent carpels cohering by their inner faées (commis- 
sure), when ripe separating from a filiform central axis (carpophore), 
from the top of which they often remain suspended for a time. Hach 
carpel (mericarp) generally bears 5 longitudinal ridges, sometimes ex- 
panded into wings. In the spaces or furrows between the ridges, and 
imbedded in the pericarp, are one or more longitudinal oil-canals (vitiae). 
Secondary ridges are also sometimes placed between the primary ones. 
Seeds 1 to each carpel, pendulous; albumen abundant, horny; embryo 
minute, next the hilum, radicle superior. 
A very large and extremely distinct family represented all over the world, but 
most plentiful in western Asia, south Europe, and north Africa; rarer in the tropics 
and in the South Temperate Zone. Genera about 200; species estimated at 2600. 
The properties of the family are extremely varied. Several species secrete a poisonous 
and narcotic acrid sap, as hemlock, fool’s parsley, water drop-wort, &c. Others are 
characterized by the presence of a gum-resin, as Asafoetida and Galbanum. Many 
species produce aromatic and carminative fruits, as caraway, coriander, dill, Xe. 
The chief edible species are the carrot and parsnip, where the roots alone are eaten ; 
and celery, parsley, and fennel, where the leaves and stems are employed. Of the 
14 New Zealand genera, Corella is endemic; Aciphylla, Actinotus, and probably 
Anisotome extend to Australia; Azorella, Schizeilema, and Creomyrrhis are mainly 
South American; but the two latter occur in Australia as well. The remaining 7 
are all widely distributed. 
* Umbels simple (sometimes irregularly compound in Schizeilema). 
a. Vittae absent. 
Creeping herbs with scarious stipules. Involucre wanting. Fruit 
laterally much compressed, without secondary ribs or reticula- 
tions ae a re a .. 1, HyprocoTy.e. 
Creeping herb. Involucre present. Fruit laterally much com- 
pressed ; secondary ribs or reticulations present # .. 2, CENTELLA. 
Stems closely compacted, forming rounded pulvinate masses. 
Leaves densely imbricated. Fruit tetragonous : ia 
Stems tufted, usually emitting creeping stolons or leafy flowering 
branches. Fruit tetragonus a: “3 x + 
Leaves and involucres spinous. Umbels contracted into a com- 
pact spike or head : # he Be Ry 
Tufted or creeping. Ovary 1-celled, l-ovuled. Carpel solitary 
3. AZORELLA. 
. SCHIZEILEMA, 
. ERYNGIUM. 
. ACTINOTUS. 
So 
6. Vittae present. 
Tufted or diffuse. Leaves much dissected. Fruit narrowed 
above, nearly terete + a de ae 
Aquatic. Stem creeping. Leaves terete or subcompressed, 
fistular, septate Ea: be _ a .. 8. CRANTZIA., 
21* 
7. OREOMYRRUIS. 
