APIACEAE

 

Plants mostly herbs. Leaves alternate, usually pinnately or palmately compound. The family is characterized by  the arrangement of flowers in determinate umbels, either simple or compound. Most of the species can be recognized because of their unique aromatic herbage and sheathing petiole.  Flowers actinomorphic, perianth biseriate, Calyx adnate to the ovary only the 5 distinct or often reduced to teeth, Corolla 5 distinct petals. Anthers 2 celled, basi- or dorsifixed, dehiscing longitudinally. Pistil 1, ovary inferior, carpels reduced to two. bilocular, 2 carpelled, the placentation axile. Fruit a scizocarp.  An alternative name (previous name)  for this family is Umbeliferae.