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.

CORIANDRUM

Annual, taprooted, glabrous
Stem erect, branched
Leaf: blade oblong to ovate, ternately or pinnately lobed to pinnately dissected
Inflorescence: umbels compound, terminal and lateral; bracts 0; bractlets few, small; rays, pedicels few, spreading-ascending
Flowers: marginal bilateral; calyx lobes prominent, unequal; petals oblong, white or rosy, marginal 2-lobed, tips of all narrowed; styles elongate
Fruit ± round; halves not separating readily; ribs 1° and 2°, thread-like, in a hard fruit-wall; oil tubes 0; fruit axis divided to base
Seed: face concave
Species in genus: 1–2 species: Medit, 1 widely cultivated
Etymology: (Greek name for this anciently cultivated condiment)

Introduced

C. sativum L.

CORIANDER, CILANTRO

Plant 2–8 dm, foul-smelling
Leaves: basal clustered, 3–15 cm, oblong to ovate, ternately or pinnately lobed to 1-pinnate with leaflets 1–2 cm, ovate to round, petiole 2–10 cm; upper cauline ovate, pinnately dissected with segments 2–15 mm, thread-like to linear, petiole 0
Inflorescence: peduncles 0 or 3–10 cm; bractlets 2–4 mm, linear; rays 2–8, 1–2.5 cm; pedicels 2–5 mm
Flower: calyx lobes widely lanceolate
Fruit 2.5–5 mm wide
Chromosomes: 2n=22
Ecology: Disturbed places, often near gardens
Elevation: generally < 1000 m.
Bioregional distribution: California Floristic Province
Distribution outside California: to Mexico, tropical America; native to Mediterranean