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.

TAUSCHIA

Perennial, taprooted or roots tuberous, glabrous to hairy
Stem 0 or low
Leaf: blade oblong to obovate, 1–2-pinnate or -ternate, leaflets wide, margins entire to pinnately lobed
Inflorescence: umbels compound, terminal; peduncle generally > leaf; bracts generally 0; involucel 1-sided; bractlets inconspicuous to leaf-like; rays, pedicels few–many, ascending to reflexed, generally few fertile
Flower: calyx lobes evident to 0; petals wide, yellow, tips narrowed; styles short to slender; projection atop ovary inconspicuous
Fruit oblong to round, ± compressed side-to-side, glabrous; ribs prominent to thread-like, subequal, unwinged; oil tubes per rib-interval several; fruit axis generally divided ± to base
Seed: face generally grooved or concave
Etymology: (I.F. Tausch, Czech botanist, 1793–1848)
Species in genus: ± 35 species: w North America., C.Am, n South America.

Native

T. hartwegii (A. Gray) J.F. Macbr.

Plant 3–10 dm, minutely scabrous
Stem 0
Leaf: petiole 5–25 cm; blade 12–24 cm, oblong to widely ovate, 1–2-ternate-pinnate, leaflets 25–60 mm, oblong to ovate, coarsely serrate, often lobed
Inflorescence: peduncle 2.5–8 dm; bractlets several, 5–12 mm, ± lanceolate, entire, reflexed, some slightly > flowers, fruits; rays 10–30, 2–12 cm, unequal; pedicels 2–7 mm
Flower: calyx lobes minute; corolla yellow; styles slender
Fruit 4–7 mm, nearly round; ribs thread-like; oil tubes per rib-interval 3–5; fruit axis divided to base
Chromosomes: 2n=22
Ecology: Chaparral, pine/oak woodland
Elevation: 300–1500 m.
Bioregional distribution: n Sierra Nevada Foothills, San Francisco Bay Area, Outer South Coast Ranges.