Fig. 538.—Coriandrum sativum: b secondary ridges; d primary ridges; f endosperm; l embryo.
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.
Pollination. The flowers are adapted for insect-pollination; they secrete nectar at the base of the styles; individually they are rather small and insignificant, but yet are rendered conspicuous by being always crowded in many-flowered inflorescences. Protandry is common, sometimes to such an extent that the stamens have already fallen off before the styles begin to develop (Fig [539], 2). Insect visits are more frequent and numerous as the inflorescences are more conspicuous. The flowers as a rule are ☿, but ♂-flowers are often found interspersed among the others (Fig. [539]), and the number of these becomes greater on the umbels developed at the latest period. A terminal flower, which differs from the others in form, and in Daucus carota often in colour also (purple), is sometimes found in the umbel. The nectar lies so exposed and flat that the flowers are principally visited by insects with short probosces, especially Diptera; bees are less frequent visitors, and butterflies rare.—1400 species (175 genera); especially from temperate climates in Europe, Asia, N. Am. About 68 species in this country.
Fig. 539.—Anthriscus silvester: 1 ♂-flower; 2 ☿-flower.
Uses. A few are cultivated as ornamental plants. They are, however, useful in medicine,[38] and for culinary purposes on account of the essential oils and gum-resins which in many are formed in root, stem, and fruit. The FRUITS of the following are used: Carum carvi [+] (Caraway), Carum petroselinum (Parsley; also the leaves and root; its home is the Eastern Mediterranean); Fœniculum capillaceum [+] (Fennel; S. Europe); Pimpinella anisum [+] (Anise; E. Mediterranean); Coriandrum sativum [+] (Coriander; S. Eur.); Œnanthe phellandrium (Water Dropwort); Cuminum cyminum (Point Caraway; Africa; cultivated in S. Europe); Anethum graveolens (Dill). The LEAVES of the following are used as pot-herbs: Anthriscus cerefolium (Chervil); Myrrhis odorata (Sweet Cicely; Orient.); Conium maculatum [+] (the green portions; Hemlock). Besides Parsley, the ROOTS of the following are used: Carrot, Parsnip, Sium sisarum (Sugar-root; E. Asia); Chærophyllum bulbosum (Chervil-root); Levisticum officinale (foliage-shoots; S. Europe); Imperatoria ostruthium; Apium graveolens (Celery, the root in conjunction with the internodes); Pimpinella saxifraga and magna (Pimpinell); Archangelica (Angelica, the root of A. norvegica was formerly an article of food in Norway). Poisonous alkaloids are found in a few, such as Fool’s Parsley (Æthusa cynapium), Hemlock (Conium maculatum), Cow-bane (Cicuta virosa) and species of Œnanthe.—Gum-resin is extracted from various species: “Galbanum” from Ferula galbaniflua [+] and rubricalis [+] (Persia); Asafœtida from Ferula scorodosma [+] and F. narthex [+]; Ammoniac-gum from Dorema ammoniacum [+], all from Central and S. W. Asia. “Silphium” was an Umbelliferous plant which grew in ancient times in Cyrene, and from which the Romans extracted a valued condiment.
Family 25. Hysterophyta.
This family (with the exception of Aristolochiaceæ) includes only parasitic plants. Partly on this ground, and partly because they all have epigynous flowers, they are considered to belong to the youngest type (which is expressed in the name ὕστερος, the one that comes after). It is not certain to which of the preceding families they are most nearly allied. Again, it is a matter of doubt whether the Aristolochiaceæ are related to the others; they are by Engler united with Rafflesiaceæ into one family, Aristolochiales.
