PLANTS

UMBELLIFEROUS

SECTION IX.

CHAPTER I.

Having finished the eighth section, which established the Corymbiferous original: "Corymbiferas"; plants with flat-topped flower clusters where the outer stalks are longer than the inner ones, such as daisies or tansy plants, it is now worth our effort to arrange the Umbels original: "Umbellas"; plants like carrots, parsley, and fennel, where the flower stalks spread out from a single point like the ribs of an umbrella, which constitute Section Nine, using a more precise method than has been done by anyone before us. To more easily fulfill our promise, we will first define what an Umbel is.

An Umbel is the round top of a plant, resting on the peak of the stem, from which many rays arise from the same center (namely the tip of the stem). These form a surface that is mostly flat, though sometimes convex and occasionally concave, composed of flowers that are usually white, sometimes yellow, and very rarely purple. When these flowers fade, there follow—by a constant and invariable order of nature—two seeds joined together for every flower (each flower being composed of five petals or leaflets). Regardless of the shape or figure of the seed, they are concave on the inner side where they join, and convex on the outer side.

We shall arrange the Umbelliferous plants by taking into account the Shape of the Seeds. According to their form and figure, we will propose nine Classes, constituting the sub-genera of the Umbels properly so-called. Indeed, no order has yet been found for this vast and far-reaching Genus that provides more certain indicators than the identical form of the seed for establishing a sub-genus. Furthermore, observe that we have chosen this method based on the identity or similarity of the seed shape (from its way of growing), because seeds are the "nobler parts" of the plant, since all other parts are made for their sake; for by these, the lineages of every kind are perpetuated. Leaves, however, Roots, and Stems—since they serve the fruiting process partly by chance and partly as secondary supports—we will set aside, so that from them the specific or intermediate differences between plants may be taken, as we will teach more extensively in various places below.

BALL-BEARING UMBELS.

The First Genus of Umbels.

A hierarchical classification chart for "Cachrys, or Ball-bearing Libanotis". A bracket leads to "With a spongy seed", which then splits into "Smooth" (marked with a dotted circle symbol) and "Grooved". "Grooved" further branches into "Rough" and "Flat", both marked with the same dotted circle symbol.

Explanation of the table above.

The first sub-genus of Umbels shall be the Cachryophorum literally "pill-bearing" or "nut-bearing", or Piliferum ball-bearing, called Cachrys or Cachrys-bearing Libanotis A group of plants in the carrot family with thick, corky seeds; "Libanotis" was an ancient name for several aromatic plants, because it bears seeds covered in a spongy substance, oblong, joined in pairs, and compact. It has a shape like an oblong pill or a small nutmeg. Consult the third Plate of Illustrations provided by us.