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.

SANICULA

Biennial, perennial herb, rhizomed or tap- or tuberous-rooted, glabrous or minutely scabrous
Stem generally spreading or erect
Leaf: blade oblong-ovate to obovate, entire to ternately, palmately, subpinnately, or pinnately lobed, dissected, or compound
Inflorescence: heads simple, in cymes or racemes, dense, of bisexual and staminate (or only staminate) flowers; bracts entire or lobed, < to > heads; bisexual flowers pedicelled or not, staminate generally pedicelled
Flower: calyx lobes prominent, persistent, sometimes fused; petals wide, yellow, red-purple, or greenish white, tips narrowed, often lobed; styles long or short; projection atop ovary 0
Fruit oblong-ovate to round, slightly compressed side-to-side; fruit-halves subcylindric, covered with prickles, scales, or tubercles; ribs 0; oil tubes evident or obscure, regularly or irregularly arranged; fruit central axis not an obvious structure
Seed: face flat or grooved
Species in genus: ± 40 species: temp, ± worldwide
Etymology: (Latin: to heal)
Reference: [Bell 1954 Univ Calif Publ Bot 27:133–230]

Native

S. hoffmannii (Munz) C. Bell

HOFFMANN'S SANICLE

Plant 30–90 cm, stout, taprooted
Leaf generally compound, palmate, bluish green; blade 4.5–13.5 cm, triangular, leaflets (or deepest lobes) generally 3, obovate, ± cut, margins irregularly serrate, central leaflet generally 4–7 cm, 4–30 mm wide, narrowed to a petiole-like base
Inflorescence: peduncle 1.5–12 cm; bracts 5–7, 3–5 mm, lanceolate, < heads; pedicels 0 or short
Flowers: bisexual 4–10; staminate 3–5; calyx lobes 1–2.3 mm, widely lanceolate, acute, fused at base; corolla greenish yellow; styles ± = calyx lobes
Fruit 3–5 mm, ovate to obovate, with stout, curved prickles throughout, these poorly developed below
Seed: face flat
Chromosomes: 2n=16
Ecology: UNCOMMON. Shrubby coastal hills, pine woodland
Elevation: 80–300 m.
Bioregional distribution: Central Coast (Santa Cruz Co.), South Coast, n Channel Islands
Horticultural information: DFCLT.