_ (_Umbelliferae_), x 1/2.
_B_, single flower of the same, x 3. _C_, a leaf, showing the
sheathing base, x 1/4. _D_, a fruit, x 2. _E_, cross-section of _D_.
_F_, part of the inflorescence of spikenard, _Aralia_ (_Araliaceae_),
x 1. _G_, a single flower of the same, x 3. _H_, the fruit, x 2. _I_,
cross-section of the _H_. _J_, inflorescence of dogwood, _Cornus_
(_Corneae_). The cluster of flowers is surrounded by four white bracts
(_b_), x 1/3. _K_, a single flower of the same, x 2. _L_, diagram of the
flower. _M_, young fruit of another species (_Cornus stolonifera_)
(red osier), x 2. _N_, cross-section of _M_.]

The last and highest group of the _Choripetalae_, the _Calyciflorae_,
embraces a very large assemblage of familiar plants, divided into
eight orders and thirty-two families. With few exceptions, the floral
axis grows up around the ovary, carrying the outer floral leaves above
it, and the ovary appears at the bottom of a cup around whose edge the
other parts of the flower are arranged. Sometimes, as in the fuchsia,
the ovary is grown to the base of the cup or tube, and thus looks as
if it were outside the flower. Such an ovary is said to be "inferior"
in distinction from one that is entirely free from the tube, and thus
is evidently within the flower. The latter is the so-called "superior"
ovary. The carpels are usually united into a compound pistil, but may
be separate, as in the stonecrop (Fig. 111, _E_), or strawberry
(Fig. 114, _C_).

The first order of the _Calyciflorae_ (_Umbelliflorae_) has the flowers
small, and usually arranged in umbels, _i.e._ several stalked flowers
growing from a common point. The ovary is inferior, and there is a
nectar-secreting disc between the styles and the stamens. Of the three
families, the umbel-worts or _Umbelliferae_ is the commonest. The
flowers are much alike in all (Fig. 110, _A_, _B_), and nearly all
have large, compound leaves with broad, sheathing bases. The stems are
generally hollow. So great is the uniformity of the flowers and plant,
that the fruit (Fig. 110, _D_) is generally necessary before the plant
can be certainly recognized. This is two-seeded in all, but differs
very much in shape and in the development of oil channels, which
secrete the peculiar oil that gives the characteristic taste to the
fruits of such forms as caraway, coriander, etc. Some of them, like
the wild parsnip, poison hemlock, etc., are violent poisons, while
others like the carrot are