APIACEAE

CARROT FAMILY

Lincoln Constance

Annual, biennial, perennial herb (rarely shrub, tree), often from taproot
Stem often ± scapose, generally ribbed, hollow
Leaves basal and generally some cauline, generally alternate; stipules generally 0; petiole base generally sheathing stem; blade generally much dissected, sometimes compound
Inflorescence: umbel or head, simple or compound, generally peduncled; bracts present (in involucres) or not; bractlets generally present (in involucels)
Flowers many, small, generally bisexual (or some staminate), generally radial (or outer bilateral); calyx 0 or lobes 5, small, atop ovary; petals 5, free, generally ovate or spoon-shaped, generally incurved at tips, generally ± ephemeral; stamens 5; pistil 1, ovary inferior, 2-chambered, generally with a ± conic, persistent projection or platform on top subtending 2 free styles
Fruit: 2 dry, 1-seeded halves that separate from each other but generally remain attached for some time to a central axis; ribs on each half 5, 2 marginal and 3 on back; oil tubes 1–several per interval between ribs
Genera in family: 300 genera, 3,000 species: ± worldwide, especially temp; many cultivated for food or spice (e.g., Carum, caraway; Daucus; Petroselinum); some highly toxic (e.g., Conium). Underground structures here called roots, but true nature remains problematic. Mature fruit generally critical in identification; shapes generally given in outline, followed by shape in X -section of 2 fruit halves together.

CYMOPTERUS

Perennial, taprooted, generally glabrous
Stem generally 0 or short
Leaves mostly basal, membranous to subleathery or fleshy; blade oblong to widely ovate or round, palmately or pinnately lobed to 1–2-pinnately or -ternate-pinnately dissected or compound, segments or leaflets linear to obovate, entire to variously lobed, generally spine-tipped
Inflorescence: umbels compound, generally terminal, scapose, open to spheric, dense, peduncled; bracts, bractlets conspicuous and scarious (or rarely 0); rays few–many (rays and pedicels sometimes ± 0)
Flower: calyx lobes prominent to 0; petals oblong to obovate, white, yellow, or purple, tips narrowed; projection atop ovary 0
Fruit oblong to ovate, subcylindric to compressed front-to-back; ribs subequal or unequal, marginal and some or all others thin- or corky-winged, or rarely some or all wingless; oil tubes per rib-interval 1–several; fruit axis 0 or divided to base
Seed: face flat to longitudinally concave or grooved
Species in genus: ± 50 species: w North America
Etymology: (Greek: wave wing)
Reference: [Mathias 1930 Ann Missouri Bot Gard 17:213–476]
Generic boundaries fluctuating. Some species outside CA are TOXIC to livestock.

Native

C. panamintensis J.M. Coult. & Rose

Plant 0.5–4 dm, glabrous; base woody
Stem 0
Leaf: petiole 1–10 cm; blade 1–14 cm, oblong-ovate to obovate, ternate–2–3-pinnately dissected, segments 1–5 mm, ± linear, acute, generally ± distinct
Inflorescence: peduncles > leaves, 3–25 cm; bracts 0; bractlets linear, acuminate, fused at base; fertile rays 5–15, 1–6.5 cm, subequal; pedicels 4–13 mm
Flower: corolla greenish yellow
Fruit 6–10 mm, oblong-ovate; ribs subequal, wings = or > body in width; oil tubes per rib-interval 1–5
Ecology: Uncommon. Rocky slopes, canyon walls
Elevation: 700–2500 m.
Bioregional distribution: Mojave Desert.Varieties questionably distinct.

Native

var. panamintensis

Leaf: segments ± crowded, 1–5 mm, rigid
Ecology: Rocky slopes
Elevation: 800–2500 m.
Bioregional distribution: Desert Mountains
Flowering time: Mar–May