APIACEAE (Umbelliferae) - Carrot or Parsley Family

Biennial or perennial herbs, rarely woody

Leaves alternate and much divided, sheathing at base

Flowers bisexual, actinomorphic, infl. an umbel, compound umbel or rarely capitate (Eryngium)

Fruit a dry schizocarp splitting into two mericarps

 

300 genera, 3000 species

ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE

Food
1. Daucus carota (Carrots) - tap root
2. Pastinaca sativa (Parsnips) - tap root
3. Apium graveolens (Celery) - expanded leaf petiole

Flavoring
A. Herbage - referred to as herbs

1. Petroselinum crispum (Parsley)
2. Anthriscus cerefolium (Chervil)
3. Anethum graveolens (Dill)
4. Coriandrum sativum (Cilantro)

B. Dried fruits - referred to as spices

1. Foeniculum vulgare (Fennel)
2. Cuminum cyminum (Cumin)
3. Pimpinella anisum (Anise)
4. Apium sativum (Celery seed)
5. Carum carvi (Caraway seed)
6. Corandrum sativum (Coriander)
7. Anethum graveolens (Dill)

Poisons

A. Conium maculatum (Poison Hemlock) used to kill Socrates
B. Cicuta maculata (Water Hemlock) - possibly more poisonous than Conium

Medicinal uses - members of the Apiaceae produce a wide array of compounds and they have been used to treat a variety of ailments. Some of them are also extremely toxic and use of members of this family should be limited to cultivated plants of known identity.

Diagnostic characteristics: Herbs, infl. an umbel, leaves much divided, fruit a schizocarp with two mericarps
IMAGE GALLERY
FLOWERING PLANT GATEWAY (Apiaceae) (Umbelliferae)