| Family: | Apiaceae; Umbelliferae |
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| Common name: | parsley family [Zomlefer, pp. 193-198] |
| Diversity: | Worldwide: 300 genera; ~3,000 species U.S.: 70 genera PNW (Hitchcock & Cronquist): 33 genera |
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| Flower -- Vegetative Features -- Economic Importance -- Flower Images--Web Sites | |
| Flower | |
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K5 Co5 S5 P.GIF) |
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| Sexuality: | bisexual (rarely monoecious/dioecious) |
| Symmetry: | actinomorphic |
| Inflorescence: | compound or simple umbel |
| Calyx (sepals): | 5, separate and very small |
| Corolla (petals): | 5, separate, often yellow or white |
| Androecium: | 5 separate stamens |
| Gynoecium: | bicarpelate, united, inferior ovary (=epigynous), two styles that are fused at their base forming a nectar secreting disc (=stylopodium) |
| Fruit: | schizocarp |
| Other features: | |
| Vegetative Features | |
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| often aromatic stout, furrowed stems with hollow stem internodes |
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| Leaves: | alternate, usu. compound (often dissected), sheathing leaf-base, exstipulate |
| Life-history: | annual to perennial |
| Habit: | herbs, rarely trees |
| Distribution & Ecology: | mostly temperate regions of N hemisphere |
| Some Northwest Genera: | Angelica, angelica Cicuta, water-hemlock Heracleum, cow parsnip Ligusticum, lovage Lomatium, parsley Sanicula, snake root |
| Economic Importance | |
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| Crops: | food plants, spices, medicinal herbs Daucus, carrot Apium, celery Petroselionum, parsley Anethum, dill Carum, caraway Coriandrum, coriander Pimpinella, anise |
| Ornamentals: | |
| Weedy and pest species: | some extremely toxic species Cicuta, water-hemlock Conium, poison hemlock |
| Examples | Umbelliferae Lomatium |
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| Umbelliferae Lomatium |
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| Umbelliferae Lomatium |
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| Umbelliferae Lomatium |
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| click on the genus name for a flower image | |
Links to Other Web Sites
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