Part 71

This large order (2,100 species) is confined almost entirely to the Tropics, being found principally in America and Australia. In Europe, only Myrtus communis.--Several are useful on account of the large quantity of volatile oils (contained in internal glands): the flower-buds (“Cloves”) of Eugenia caryophyllata (the Moluccas, cultivated in the Tropics, Figs. 523, 524); the unripe, dry berries (“Pimento”) of Myrtus pimenta (Pimenta officinalis, W. Indies); Cajeput oil is extracted from Melaleuca minor and leucadendron (East Asian Islands). Eucalyptus globulus (Australia) has of late years become well known on account of its rapid growth, its hard wood, and its antipyretic qualities; it is cultivated on swampy soils, which it helps to drain.--OFFICINAL: “Cloves,” and the cork of both stem and root of Punica granatum. Several have EDIBLE FRUITS, such as Psidium guyava (Guava, var. pomiferum and pyriferum, Am.), Eugenia cauliflora and others, E. jambosa, Punica granatum (the Pomegranate), etc. EDIBLE SEEDS (with abundance of fatty oil): “Brazil nuts” from Bertholletia excelsa (Trop. S. Am.). “Bay-rum” is extracted from the leaves and fruits of the Bayberry-tree (Pimenta acris, W. Ind.); Guava-rum from the berries of Eugenia floribunda. Tannin is found in large quantities e.g. in Punica. Gum is formed by many Australian Eucalypti (“Gum-trees”). ORNAMENTAL PLANTS cultivated in this country are: Myrtus communis (Mediterranean), several in conservatories, especially the Australian Leptospermeæ, Eucalyptæ and others.

Family 24. =Umbellifloræ.=

The flower is regular, ☿, and completely epigynous, 5- or 4-merous, with =1= whorl of stamens and 5–2 carpels. Sepals very small, tooth-like. The corolla is polypetalous, most frequently valvate in æstivation (least pronounced in the Umbelliferous plants). Round the base of the styles, which are generally free, there is an epigynous (undivided, or divided) nectar-disc (“stylar-foot”: Figs. 528 B, C, D; 539); the number of loculi in the ovary equals that of the carpels; only =1= pendulous (anatropous) ovule (Fig. 528 C) in each loculus. Endosperm copious (Fig. 528 D). To this must be added that the inflorescence in the majority of cases is an umbel or a capitulum, especially in the Umbelliferæ and Araliaceæ. Stipules are absent, but most frequently the base of the petiole forms a large sheath.

The Umbellifloræ are on one side so closely allied to the Frangulinæ, especially Rhamnaceæ, that they may perhaps be regarded as the epigynous continuation of this family. On the other hand, the similarities to the Rubiales, especially those between Cornaceæ and Sambuceæ, are so great that there is scarcely any character to distinguish them except the polypetalous corolla of the former and the gamopetalous corolla of the latter. Whether this is more than a merely analogous resemblance, and if not, whether the Cornaceæ at least should not be included in the Rubiales, must be left in abeyance.--The sepals are very small, as is generally the case in epigynous flowers.

Order 1. =Cornaceæ.= The majority of the species are shrubs with solid internodes, opposite (rarely scattered) leaves, which are simple, entire (rarely incised), penninerved, without stipules or large sheaths; flowers =4=-merous (most frequently S4, P4, A4, G2), borne in dichasia which are either collected into corymbs (e.g. Cornus sanguinea), or in closely crowded umbels or capitula (Cornus mas, C. suecica), in which latter case there is often a large, leafy, or coloured, most frequently 4-leaved involucre round the base of the inflorescence; the style is undivided, with lobed stigma; the raphe of the ovule is turned outwards. The fruit is a berry or a drupe, with a 1–4-locular stone or 2 free stones.

Cornus (Dogwood, Cornel) has S4, P4, A4, G2. Leaves opposite.

Drupe with a bilocular, 2-seeded stone.--Aucuba, diœcious; unilocular ovary; 1 ovule; 1-seeded berry.--Garrya.--Helwingia.

80 species; N. Temp. The fruits of Cornus mas are edible; the wood is very hard; gum is found in some. Several species of Cornus and Aucuba japonica (Japan) are cultivated as ornamental shrubs.

Order 2. =Araliaceæ (Ivies).= Principally trees or shrubs with solid stems. The leaves are scattered, simple or compound, with a sheath more or less developed. The flowers are most frequently situated in umbels or capitula which are either borne singly or in racemes, or in paniculate inflorescences. The small, most frequently yellowish-green flowers are =5=-merous, in the calyx, corolla, and andrœcium; the gynœceum may be 5-merous or may have some other number (=2=-∞). The styles are most frequently several, free; the raphe of the ovules is turned inwards as in the Umbelliferous plants. The fruit is a drupe or berry.--~Stellate hairs often occur. The petals generally have a broad base, and a thick apex which is slightly incurved, and a distinctly valvate æstivation.~

Hedera helix (Ivy) climbs by adventitious roots. The leaves are palminerved and lobed on the sterile branches, but often ovate and not lobed on the flowering branches. ~The flowers are yellowish-green and open in the autumn; they are slightly protandrous, and are visited by flies and wasps. Berries black. Endosperm ruminate.--Panax. Aralia (with Dimorphanthus).~

375 species, 51 genera; especially in the Tropics (E. Asia).--The Ivy, several species of Aralia, e.g. A. japonica (Fatsia), Gastonia palmata, are cultivated as ornamental plants. Paper is manufactured from the pith of Aralia papyrifera (China).

Order 3. =Umbelliferæ.= The stem is herbaceous with hollow internodes; the leaves are scattered, and have a broad, amplexicaul base, a large, most frequently inflated sheath, and generally a pinnate (often very much dissected) blade. ~Entire leaves are found in Hydrocotyle vulgaris; Bupleurum.~

The flowers are ☿, regular, small, but collected in compound umbels, that is, in “simple umbels,” which again are borne in umbels (for exceptions see Hydrocotyleæ); the external flowers in the simple umbel have often subtending bracts, which surround the base as an involucre, and may be termed the small involucre; the internal ones have no bracts; when involucral leaves are present at the base of the compound umbel, they may be termed the large involucre.

The flower has =5= sepals (the median, as usual, posterior), =5= petals, =5= stamens and =2= carpels (in the median line) (Fig. 528). The calyx is often scarcely indicated. The petals have a short claw are most frequently obcordate, or have an incurved apex (Fig. 528 B, C), being incurved in the bud; they are white, rarely yellow (Fennel and Parsnips), blue or red. The flowers are sometimes zygomorphic, especially those on the circumference of the umbel, and in that case it is the petal which is directed outside (anterior) which is the largest, and the two posterior are the smallest (e.g. Heracleum). The stamens are incurved in the bud. The 2 free styles unite at the base into the “stylar-foot” (stylopod), a swollen nectary (Fig. 528 B, C); the ovary is bilocular, the raphe of the ovules being directed inwards. The fruit is a schizocarp, dividing into two mericarps; the plane in which these separate coincides with that of the union of the carpels, and the two nut-like mericarps are in most genera kept together for awhile at the top of a thin, bifid, or undivided stalk (carpophore) which is in direct continuation with the flower-stalk (Fig. 537). Each mericarp has most frequently 5 more or less strongly projecting ridges, the primary ridges (Figs. 530, 532, 534, 535, etc.), of which 3 lie on the back of the mericarp, the dorsal ridges, and 2 on its edge near the plane of division, the marginal ridges; five of these (10 ridges in all in the entire fruit) are placed opposite the calyx-teeth and the others between them. In some genera there are in addition 4 secondary ridges to each mericarp between the primary ones (Fig. 528 E: the secondary ridges bear the long bristles). Inside these secondary ridges, or inside the grooves between the primary ridges, when the secondary ridges are absent, oil ducts (vittæ, schizogenous ducts) are found in the pericarp, most frequently one in each groove; two are also often found on the ventral side of each mericarp (Figs. 528 E, 530 ol, etc.). The seed is most frequently united with the pericarp. The embryo is small and lies high up in the large, most frequently horny endosperm (Fig. 528 D).--The endosperm does not contain starch, but oil, and presents three different forms, of important systematic value: (=a=) those which are quite flat on the ventral side (i.e. the side turned towards the plane of splitting) (Figs. 528 E, 530, 531, 534, etc.): the majority of the genera, ORTHOSPERMEÆ (e.g. Carum, Pastinaca); (=b=) those in which the endosperm on the ventral side is provided with a longitudinal groove, often deep: CAMPYLOSPERMEÆ (e.g. Anthriscus); the transverse section is nearly a crescent (Fig. 532); (=c=) those in which the endosperm is concave on the ventral side (hollow in both longitudinal and transverse sections): CŒLOSPERMEÆ (e.g. Coriandrum) (Fig. 538).

The genera are distinguished first of all by the endosperm and forms of fruit, the ridges and oil-ducts; then by the form of the umbel, the calyx and corolla, by the absence or presence of an involucre, etc.

1. HYDROCOTYLEÆ, PENNY-WORT GROUP. Capitula or simple umbels (all the other groups have compound umbels). No oil-ducts. Orthospermous.--Hydrocotyle (Penny-wort). The fruit is considerably compressed laterally (Fig. 529). The calyx-teeth are small. The leaves are peltate.--Didiscus.--Sanicula (Sannicle). The umbels are small, capitate, generally collected in a raceme; calyx-teeth distinct. ♂-and ♀-flowers in the same umbel. The fruits are round, studded with hooked bristles. No carpophore.--Astrantia has an umbel surrounded by a large, often coloured involucre, with this exception it is the same as the preceding, but the fruit is slightly compressed, with 5 equal ridges. Hacquetia (Dondia).--Eryngium (Sea Holly): leaves often thorny. The flowers are all sessile, the inflorescence is thus a capitulum; each flower is often subtended by a bract, which is thorny like the involucre, resembling the burrs of the Teasel. The sepals are large.--~Lagœcia: one of the loculi of the ovary is suppressed.~

=2.= AMMIEÆ, CARAWAY GROUP (Figs. 530–532). The fruit has only the 10 primary ridges; it is usually short, almost spherical or broadly ovate and distinctly compressed laterally. Oil-canals are most frequently present. Orthospermous (except Conium).--Cicuta (Cow-bane). Pointed calyx-teeth. Glabrous herbs with pinnate or bipinnate leaves. ~C. virosa has a thick, vertical rhizome, divided by transverse septa into many compartments; the leaflets are narrow, lanceolate, and dentate; the large involucre is wanting.~--Apium (Celery). No calyx-teeth. A. graveolens, a maritime plant, has neither large nor small involucre; the umbels are short-stalked or sessile.--Carum (Caraway). Calyx-teeth small; the large involucre is wanting or is only few-leaved. C. carvi (Caraway). C. petroselinum, (Parsley) (Fig. 530). Falcaria; Ammi; Helosciadium; Bupleurum (Hare’s-ear) with simple leaves and yellow corolla; Pimpinella (Fig. 531); Sium; Ægopodium (A. podagraria, Gout-weed) has bi- or tri-ternate leaves, with ovate, dentate leaflets; the large involucre is wanting.--Conium is campylospermous (Fig. 532); the short, broadly ovate fruit has distinctly projecting, often wavy crenulate ridges. C. maculatum (Hemlock) has a round, smooth stem with purplish spots.

=3.= SCANDICEÆ. This group has a distinctly oblong or linear fruit which is slightly compressed laterally, and generally prolonged upwards into a “beak”; wings absent. Campylospermous. Otherwise as in the Ammieæ.--Anthriscus (Beaked Parsley) has a lanceolate fruit, round on the dorsal side, without ridges, but with a ten-ridged beak.--Scandix (Shepherd’s-needle).--Chærophyllum (Chervil): fruit lanceolate or linear with low, blunt ridges; beak absent or very short. C. temulum has a red-spotted, hairy stem.--Myrrhis (Cicely) has a short beak and sharp, almost winged ridges. M. odorata (Sweet Cicely) has very long fruits.

=4.= SESELINEÆ, FENNEL GROUP (Figs. 533, 534). The fruit is slightly elliptical or oblong, in transverse section circular or nearly so, without grooves in the dividing plane; only primary ridges are present. Orthospermous.--Fœniculum (Fennel) has yellow petals; both involucres are wanting; the fruit is oblong. The ridges are thick, all equally developed, or the lateral ridges are slightly larger (Fig. 534).--Æthusa (A. cynapium, Fool’s Parsley); the large involucre is wanting or is reduced to one leaf, the small involucre is composed of three linear leaves which hang downwards on the outer side of the umbels. The fruit is spherical-ovate, with thick, sharp, keeled ridges, the lateral ones of which are the broadest.--Œnanthe (Dropwort); the fruit (Fig. 533) has usually an ovate, lanceolate form, with distinct, pointed sepals and long, erect styles; the ridges are very blunt, the marginal ones a trifle broader than the others.--Seseli, Libanotis, Cnidium, Silex, Silaus, Meum, etc.

=5.= PEUCEDANEÆ, PARSNIP GROUP (Figs. 535–537). The fruit is most frequently very strongly compressed dorsally, with broad, mostly winged, lateral ridges. Only primary ridges. The dorsal ridges may project considerably, but are not winged. Orthospermous.

Transverse section of fruit.]

Transverse section of fruit.]

=a.= The winged lateral ridges stand out from each other, so that the fruit appears to be 4-winged (Fig. 535).--Angelica; Archangelica (Fig. 535); Levisticum (Lovage).

=b.= The winged lateral ridges lie close together, and form one wing on each side of the fruit (Fig. 536).--Pastinaca (Parsnip). Corolla yellow. The dorsal ridges are very weak; the oil-ducts do not reach quite as far as the base of the fruit. Both large and small involucres are wanting; leaflets ovate. Anethum (Dill) is a Parsnip with more distinct dorsal ridges and filamentous leaflets. Peucedanum (Hog’s-fennel); Ferula (with Scorodosma, Fig. 536, and Narthex); Dorema.--Heracleum (Cow-parsnip); the flowers in the margin of the umbels are often very large, zygomorphic, and project like rays, e.g. in H. sibiricum. The fruit is very flat, with very small dorsal ridges; the oil-ducts are more or less club-like and do not reach as far as the base of the fruit (Fig. 537). Imperatoria; Tordylium.

=6.= DAUCEÆ, CARROT GROUP (Fig. 528). The fruit has 18 ridges, i.e. each fruitlet has 5 primary and 4 secondary ridges, the latter being often more prominent and projecting further than the primary ones. The oil-ducts are situated under the secondary ridges (Fig. 528).

=a.= ORTHOSPERMOUS: Daucus (Carrot). The secondary ridges project much further than the primary, and bear on their crests a series of hooked spines (Fig. 528 D, E); these are much longer than the small bristles on the primary ridges. ~The involucral leaves of D. carota (Carrot) are numerous and deeply pinnate; the inflorescence contracts during the ripening of the fruit, and since the external umbels have longer stalks than the central ones, they arch over them, and the inflorescence becomes hollow. For the terminal flower, see below.~--Cuminum; Laserpitium; Melanoselinum.

=b.= CAMPYLOSPERMOUS: Torilis (Hedge Parsley). The primary ridges are covered with bristles; the secondary ridges are not. very distinct on account of the spines, which entirely fill up the grooves. Caucalis (Bur Parsley).

=c.= CŒLOSPERMOUS: Coriandrum (Coriander) has a smooth, spherical fruit (Fig. 538) with a distinct, 5-dentate calyx, the two anterior (i.e. turned outward) teeth being generally longer than the others; the two fruitlets scarcely separate from each other naturally; all the ridges project only very slightly, the curved primary ones least, the secondary ridges most.