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.

LILAEOPSIS

Perennial, glabrous; rhizomes producing fibrous roots
Stem prostrate, creeping
Leaves solitary or tufted, linear to spoon-shaped, cylindric or ± flattened, segmented, entire, without definite blade and petiole, scarious-sheathing at base
Inflorescence: umbels simple, open, generally peduncled; bracts several, inconspicuous; pedicels few, spreading to recurved
Flower: calyx lobes minute; petals wide, white or maroon, short-acuminate, tip not incurved
Fruit ovate to obovate, slightly compressed side-to-side, glabrous; ribs equal or not, 0–all conspicuously spongy-thickened; oil tubes per rib-interval several–many; fruit central axis not an obvious structure
Seed: face rounded or flat
Species in genus: 13 species: Am, Australia, New Zealand, Africa(?)
Etymology: (Greek: like Lilaea of Lilaeaceae)
Reference: [Affolter 1985 Syst Bot Mon 6:1–140]

Native

L. occidentalis J.M. Coult. & Rose

Leaves solitary or tufted, 2.5–30 cm, 0.7–4.5 mm wide, linear or tapered
Inflorescence: peduncles 5–65 mm; bracts 0.5–2 mm; pedicels 5–12, 1–12 mm
Fruit 1.3–2.4 mm, elliptic or round, only marginal ribs wide, thickened; oil tubes per rib-interval generally 6–9
Chromosomes: 2n=44
Ecology: Salty or brackish soil, especially coastal
Elevation: ± 0 m.
Bioregional distribution: North Coast, Central Coast
Distribution outside California: to British Columbia
Horticultural information: WET, SUN: 4, 15, 16, 17; INV.