| TREATMENT FROM THE JEPSON MANUAL (1993) |
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©Copyright 1993 by the Regents of the University of California
For up-to-date information about California vascular plants, visit the Jepson eFlora. |
AND IS MAINTAINED FOR ARCHIVAL PURPOSES ONLY |
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.
Perennial, taprooted, low, fibrous at base, ± puberulent
Stem 0
Leaves basal; blades oblong to widely ovate, 1–2-pinnate, leaflets linear to round
Inflorescence: umbels compound, dense, head-like; bracts 0 or linear; involucel 1-sided; bractlets several, narrow or wide, generally partly fused; rays few, cylindric or flattened to winged; pedicels like rays
Flower: calyx lobes conspicuous; petals wide, yellow, purplish, or white, tips narrowed
Fruit oblong-ovate to ovate, slightly compressed side-to-side, glabrous; ribs subequal, thread-like to prominently corky, obtuse; oil tubes per rib-interval 2–several; fruit axis not seen
Seed compressed front-to-back; face flat to slightly concave
Species in genus: 4 species: mtns of w North America
Etymology: (Greek: solid foot, from compact habit)