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.

ANGELICA

Perennial, taprooted
Stem erect, leafy, hollow
Leaves: petioles generally inflated; cauline often bladeless; blades compound, rarely dissected, leaflets generally wide, distinct, when leaf dissected, segments narrow, connected
Inflorescence: umbels compound, peduncled; bracts 0; bractlets 0 or many and conspicuous; rays, pedicels many, spreading-ascending or ascending
Flower: calyx lobes 0 or minute; petals wide, white, pink, red, or purple
Fruit oblong to round, generally very compressed front-to-back (rarely slightly so or cylindric), glabrous to hairy; ribs generally unequal, winged but marginal generally wider than others; oil tubes per rib-interval 1–several, adhering to fruit wall or rarely to seed; fruit axis divided to base
Seed: face flat
Species in genus: 50–60 species: temp North America, Asia
Etymology: (Latin: angelic, for cordial and medicinal properties)
Reference: [DiTomaso 1984 Madroño 31:69–79]

Native

A. lineariloba A. Gray

Plant 5–15 dm, nearly glabrous to scabrous
Leaf 1–3.5 dm, triangular-ovate, 2–3-ternate-pinnately dissected; segments 2–10 cm, linear to linear-oblong, acute, entire
Inflorescence scabrous; bracts, bractlets 0; rays 20–40, 3–7 cm, subequal; rays, pedicels not webbed at base
Flower: petals, ovary roughened to becoming glabrous
Fruit 10–13 mm, oblong to wedge-shaped
Ecology: Rocky open slopes
Elevation: 2300–3000 m.
Bioregional distribution: c&s High Sierra Nevada, East of Sierra Nevada
Distribution outside California: Nevada
Flowering time: Jun–Aug
Synonyms: var. culbertsonii Jeps
Horticultural information: TRY.