54
ILLUSTRATIONS OF INDIAN BOTANY.
of which I shall content myself with one ; Lygodiaceac an exalhumenous order is placed in the same alliance with Cynchonaceae a pre-eminently alhumenous one. He states that some of the connecting links of his alhumenous group are evidently wanting, this is not to be wondered at when some of the primary ones are excluded because of their having monopetalous or apetalous flowers. But let us place every known order having the " embryo considerably shorter and smaller than the albumen" together, without reference to the flowers which in comparison with the seed are variable, and reconsider the whole when it seems not improbable the missing links will be found, and the true affinities of this very curious and difficult order made out. This assuredly is not the case now, otherwise, I cannot suppose Geraneaceae an exalhumenous hy- pogynous order would be referred to as a relation in consequence of the cohesion of the carpels round a woody axis, since, at this rate, they are equally allied to Euphorbiacene, with the additional advantage of both having alhumenous seed. Here I quit the subject of its affinities having said enough to show that the question is still sub judice and requires a master mind to unravel it.
Geographical Distribution. I had almost said fortunately, for Indian Botanists, this order occupies but a very secondary place in the Indian Flora, the species being chiefly natives of more temperate climates, where they inhabit groves, thickets, marshy places, plains and waste grounds. The few species found in Southern India are chiefly met with on the highest hills or the skirts of dense jungles, a very few only being found on the open plains and these principally in rich arable lands. In northern India they are more frequent especially on the Himalayas, whence Dr. Royle informs us he has no fewer than 90 species, which, added to those from other parts of India make a total of 127 Indian ones. Though Umbelliferae abound more in the Northern than Southern hemisphere, the latter is not deficient, something less than one-third of those known being found in the temperate portions of the South, but they are much more numerous in the old than the new world. Being so exclusively an extra tropical order it is not one meriting much consideration of the tropical Botanist beyond showing thnt wherever a number of species are found native within the tropics, the station may be considered one enjoying a low mean temperature and thoroughly adapted for the growth of extra tropical plants requiring for their successful culture a temperate climate. The same fact shows on the other hand that, being generally plants impatient of high temperature, there seems little chance of successfully cultivating any of the extra tropical species within the tropies, except during the coolest season of the year.
Properties and Uses. The properties which distinguish this family are very various and, according to the part under examination, of the most opposite kind : those appertaining to the seed being for the most part aromatic and mildly stimulant, and scarcely in any instance poisonous ; while those of the vegetation are generally acrid,very often virulently poisonous and except when ameliorated by culture always suspicious. A few only are employed towards sup- plying food for man or cattle. The Carrot, Parsnip, Skirret, Parsley, Cellary, Samphire, Ar- racacha and Earth-nut (Buneum Bulbocasl.anum) about complete the list of those eat by man ; the Prangos hay of Cashmere is one of the very few used as fodder for cattle. The Materia Medica is however largely indebted to this order, some of our most esteemed Carminitives being derived from it, as well as some powerful narcotic remedies, among these perhaps the best known is the Hemlock, which has been long in use for the relief of Cancerous affections and oc- casionally as a local application for the cleaning of foul ulcers, though for this last purpose the Carrot is in more general use. Caraway, Coriander, Dill Anise, Fennel seed are all used as Carminitives and gentle stimulants in Europe and India. The Ajawan and some others are es- teemed here though less known elsewhere. Besides these we are indebted to this family for several other useful medicines, such as Assafoeteda, Opoponax, Galhanum, Sagapinum, and it is supposed Gum Ammoniae, one of our best expectorants and applied as a plaster to indolent tumours and chronic boils, an excellent deobstruent. Dr. Paris recommends it in combination with Rhubarb as a useful medicine in Mysenteric affections by correcting viscid secretions.
DeCandolle seems to think that the very opposite properties found in this family may be explained by supposing that the extractive matter is narcotic and acrid, while the resinous matter is stimulant and aromatic, which in other words is, by supposing
