The Apiaceae or Umbelliferae (both names are allowed by the ICBN) are a family of usually aromatic plants with hollow stems, including parsley, carrot, and other relatives. It is a large family with about 300 genera and more than 3,000 species. The earlier name Umbelliferae derives from the inflorescence being in the form of a compound "umbel".

The small flowers are radially symmetrical with 5 small sepals, 5 petals and 5 stamens.

The family contains some highly toxic plants, such as hemlock, which was used to execute Socrates and also used to poison arrow tips. It also contains some highly useful plants, such as carrots, parsley, caraway, and fennel. Many plants in this family, such as wild carrot have estrogenic properties, and have been used as folk medicine for birth control. Most notable for this use is the extinct giant fennel, silphium.

More on [ Apiaceae ]

Apiaceae - Twitter Search

Photo: apiaceae: HOME SWEET HOME http://tumblr.com/xvr4ld2gn
secrets0ciety32 (Johnathan Doe) Thu, 10 Dec 2009 17:47:45 -0000
Photo: apiaceae: HOME SWEET HOME http://tumblr.com/xvr4ld2gn
fennel seeds,Foeniculum vulgare,Miller Apiaceae,Saunf,fennel, fennel seed tea,
parkerexim (Dinesh Parmar) Fri, 04 Dec 2009 10:41:48 -0000
fennel seeds,Foeniculum vulgare,Miller Apiaceae,Saunf,fennel, fennel seed tea,
cumin seeds,Cuminum cyminum L,Apiaceae,Jeera,black cumin seed, black cumin seed oil,cumin seeds
parkerexim (Dinesh Parmar) Fri, 04 Dec 2009 10:40:46 -0000
cumin seeds,Cuminum cyminum L,Apiaceae,Jeera,black cumin seed, black cumin seed oil,cumin seeds

Subscribe to Apiaceae RSS feed