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.

ERYNGIUM

Biennial, perennial herb, from taproot, clustered roots, or rhizomes, generally glabrous, generally ± spiny
Stem creeping to erect, rooting at nodes, branched or not
Leaves basal and generally also cauline; petioles 0 or present; blades linear to triangular-ovate or round, generally pinnately or palmately lobed or dissected, rarely entire, often sharply toothed or ciliate, net-veined; juvenile leaves linear, segmented
Inflorescence: heads 1–many in cymes, racemes, or panicles; bracts in 1 or more series, a single bractlet accompanying each flower; rays, pedicels 0
Flower: calyx lobes prominent, persistent on fruit; petals oblong to ovate, white to blue or purple, tip long; projection atop ovary 0
Fruit obovate to round, not compressed to very compressed front-to-back, densely scaly or tubercled or some surfaces glabrous; ribs 0; oil tubes inconspicuous; fruit central axis not an obvious structure
Seed: face generally flat
Species in genus: ± 200 species: Am, Eurasia, Australia, New Zealand
Etymology: (Ancient Greek name used by Theophrastus)
Reference: [Sheikh 1983 Madroño 30:93–101]
CA species (sect. Armata ) are generally in vernal pools, polyploid, poorly defined, apparently interbreeding. Basal leaves are described unless stated otherwise.

Native

E. spinosepalum Mathias

SPINY-SEPALED BUTTON-CELERY

Plant erect, 3–7.5 dm, stout, branching from main stem 2–5 cm above basal rosette, glabrous
Leaf: petiole 0.5–2 cm, << blade; blade 9–35 cm, oblong to oblanceolate, sharply serrate to pinnately sharply lobed
Inflorescence: heads 0.8–2 cm, ovoid to spheric, in cymes; peduncles 0–2 cm; bracts 7–8, 1.5–3 cm, generally > heads, linear-lanceolate, spines 3–4 pairs on margins, generally some on back; bractlets 7–15 mm, 1.5–1.7 mm
Flower: sepals 3.5–4.5 mm, lanceolate, pinnately sharply lobed or sharply toothed; petals oblong, white; styles 3–4 mm, < sepals
Fruit 2.5–3 mm, oblong-ovate; scales dense, unequal, lanceolate, acuminate, roughened
Chromosomes: 2n=32
Ecology: Vernal pools, depressions
Elevation: 100–200 m.
Bioregional distribution: e San Joaquin Valley, adjacent Sierra Nevada Foothills
Synonyms: E. vaseyi var. globosum (Jeps.) Mathias & Constance
Apparently intergrades with E. castrense , possibly E. vaseyi.