The plant world is diverse and fascinating. Exploring it, you can find out a lot of interesting and previously unknown. Consider one of the common types. Umbrella, or celery, plants belong to the flower department, the class of dicotyledons and the order of umbelliferous.
Brief information from the section of botany
The Umbrella family, the characteristics of which are discussed in this section, mainly consists of perennial herbs. However, a small number of shrubs are found. Plants are easy to identify by the characteristic appearance of inflorescences consisting of small white, yellow, pink or blue flowers. Inflorescence umbrellas can be simple or complex. The flowers in them are regular, bisexual, with a barely noticeable cup. Most often, the corolla of the flower has 5 petals. There are 5 stamens and a pistil in the flower . Nectar that attracts insects for pollination is secreted by a protruding disc at the base of the column.
The fruit of all representatives is a bifid achene. When ripe, it is held for a long time on an elongated thread, which grows as an extension of the peduncle. Botanists call him an ovary. The walls of the fruit are often filled with essential oils.
The leaves are in most cases cirrus-dissected, with a swollen lower part covering the stem like a groove.
Seed distribution
Plants are found everywhere. They prefer a temperate climate, but are present in the tropical zone. Many species are resistant to cold. The Umbrella family consists of more than four hundred genera. It has an extensive species diversity (3,500 species). Favorite places of growth - Europe, Asia, North America.
Umbrella plants have light seeds that are carried long distances by wind, water, animal hair or human clothing. To increase windage, many seeds have enlarged pterygoid longitudinal ribs.
Those species that are carried by animals and people have hook-shaped devices on the seeds. This allows you to fix on wool or clothing and fall long distances from the mother plant.
If the seeds of plants representing the Umbrella family do not have additional devices, then they are carried with lumps of soil sticking to the feet of animals or human shoes.
Economic value. Vegetables and seasonings
It is difficult to overestimate the importance of these plants for agriculture. For example, carrots are grown in large volumes. Its root crops contain healthy vitamins and essential oils. A man grows this culture, representing the Umbrella family, more than 4 thousand years.
Parsley is grown in large quantities. This plant, in which you can use not only root vegetables, but also young green leaves. The human body receives a large amount of vitamin C when parsley is consumed, and its seeds contain useful essential oils.
The Umbrella family, whose representatives are used as spices and seasonings, grows around the world. These are coriander, caraway seeds, dill, fennel and others. As a seasoning for soups, meat and salads, lovage is widely used. Its taste is similar to celery, but not so spicy and sharp.
Medicinal plants
Due to the high content of essential oils and coumarins, plants are widely used in medicine. So, for example, babies are given dill water infused with the seeds of this plant as a remedy for bloating and colic. Anise is used as an antitussive and in teas to increase lactation.
Officially authorized for medical use is the root of the Siberian blender. Based on it, the drug dimidine is produced. Another medicinal herb of the Umbrella family is caraway. Its seeds have an antispasmodic effect and are widely used as a gastrointestinal agent.
In Chinese medicine, the properties of angelica evasion are highly valued. This plant uses roots, shoots, and seeds. With the help of angelica-based medicines, they cure gynecological diseases and relieve pain in case of neuralgia and toothache. Some other types of angelica are used as a hemostatic and sedative.
Folk and official medicine uses several types of volodushka plants. They have a beneficial effect on the stomach and pancreas, affect the acidity of the juice produced, and improve the composition of bile. In addition, the goat-chestnut scapula is used for malaria and tropical fever. It is proved that these plants have antispasmodic, antiseptic, sedative and diuretic effects.
The Umbrella family boasts a large number of different plants that are used to alleviate the human condition.
Decorative plants
Many landscape designers like to use plants of this family to decorate flowerbeds and summer cottages. They highly value the decorative properties of the Mantegazzi and the alpine bluehead.
But the perennial herbaceous gopher umbrella is customary to use for the manufacture of decorative products. Rugs, baskets and mats are woven from its leaves. But this plant is rightfully referred not to ornamental species, but to medicinal. And in ancient times it was widely used as food, since the roots of susak can be baked, ground into flour and fried.
Attention! Danger!
Among the umbrella plants come across poisonous specimens. An example is hemlock. Despite the fact that this is a valuable medicinal plant, it can cause severe poisoning. The main problem is that hemlock grows like a weed, but it is very similar to its edible relatives.
As you can see, plants of the Umbrella family can be very useful for humans. Although among them there are weeds and poisonous species.