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. arctopoides Hook. & Arn.

FOOTSTEPS OF SPRING, YELLOW MATS

Plant prostrate, 10–30 cm wide, taprooted
Leaf simple, ± palmately or ternately dissected, bright yellowish green; blade 2–6.5 cm, triangular-ovate to round, lobes coarsely toothed to lobed
Inflorescence: peduncle 3–21 cm; bracts 8–17, fused at base, 5–18 mm, >> heads, oblanceolate, entire or 3-lobed, yellow; pedicel of bisexual flower ± 2 mm, of staminate 3–4 mm
Flowers: bisexual 10–12; staminate 10–13; calyx lobes 1–2 mm, ovate, acute, fused below middle; corolla yellow; styles 2–3 X calyx lobes
Fruit 2–5 mm, obovate to nearly round, smooth or with stout, curved, inflated, bulbous-based prickles above, prickleless tubercles below
Seed: face concave
Chromosomes: 2n=16
Ecology: Open coastal bluffs, headlands, dunes
Elevation: 0–250 m.
Bioregional distribution: North Coast, Central Coast
Distribution outside California: to British Columbia
Fls late winter, early spring
Horticultural information: DFCLT.