of the last-named plants yield prussic acid largely from the leaves, flowers, or kernels of the fruit; whereas the prevailing principle of the true Rosacea is astringency. Another tribe, the Umbelliferæ, or umbel-bearers 94. Common Wild Strawberry (Fragaria vesca), an example of the natural order Rosacea. The calyx-1-in this instance ten-cleft. The corolla consisting of five petals-2. The stamens numerous. The seed or carpels borne on a fleshy receptacle-3. -Fig. 98-have we with five petals to the corolla, but in all respects very different from those tribes which have already engaged our attention. These plants derive their name from the arrangement of 3 2 95. Section of Rosebud, showing the calyx-2-adhering to and forming part of the ovary and seed-cup-3. 96. Section of calyx of a rosaceous plant, with the numerous stamens fixed upon it. their blossoms in the form of the umbel; but at the same time, other characters besides this are essen 97. Section of a Strawberry blossom; becomes the fruit. tial to constitute them true members of the order. The seed, or rather fruit-Fig. 100is peculiarly characteristic. It consists of two carpels, or achenes, combined, and attached near the receptacle-1-which enlarges and the apex to a central axis, from which they usually separate when ripe. Thus each separate little" caraway seed" is one of these carpels; albeit it is not truly a seed, but a seed-vessel, for the real seed lies within. The fruit of the um 98. Rough Chervil (Cherophyllum temulentum), an example of the natural order Umbelliferæ. The blossoms are borne on umbels-1-in this instance compound and with partial involucres-2. The leaves are alternate, compound, and sheathe the stem at their base-3. belliferous plants is usually strongly marked by longitudinal ribs and ridges-Fig. 100-and in the interstices between these, in the substance of the carpel, lie minute channels named vittæ, which contain the peculiar essential oil so commonly met with in these seeds. Each blossom of an umbel-bearing plant contains two styles, which crown the young carpels, and also five stamens, placed alternately with the five petals-Fig. 99. These petals have often what is called an "inflected point" as represented, and are sometimes very unequal in size. The umbels are often compound, and with involucres-Fig. 98. The leaves are compound, often extremely so, and sheathe the stem at the base-Fig. 98. The natural order of the umbel-bearers is a most extensive one, and includes species possessed of very different characteristics. Some, like the hemlock, the dropworts, &c., are virulent poisons; whilst others, such as the well-known caraway, the dill, the anise, &c., afford us some of our most valued aromatics. What are called gum-resins, such as asafoetida, galbanum, &c., are also yielded by this |