Apiaceae or Umbelliferae or the Parsley family is the 16th largest family of plants. It comprises 434 genera and 3700 species. The plants in this family are mostly aromatic flowering plants. The majority have a feathery foliage. They include some common names such as celery, parsley, and carrots. Apiaceae plants could be annuals, biennials, or perennials, and there are some woody shrubs or small trees. The most common characteristic is the flowers which are usually terminal umbels.
Apiaceae was originally described in 1836, by John Lindley (1799-1865), an English botanist. Apiaceae is closely related to Araliaceae.
Familiar herbs and vegetables used in our everyday lives from the Apiaceae family include:
Parsnip Pastinaca sativa
Carrot Daucus carota
Hamburg parsley Petroselinum crispum
Parsley Petroselinum crispum
Coriander Coriandrum sativum
Dill Anethum graveolens
Fennel Foeniculum vulgare
Cumin Cuminum cyminum
Caraway Carum carvi
Chervil Anthriscus cerefolium
Celery Apium graveolens
Anise Pimpinella anisum
Apiaceae also includes poisonous plants such as:
Poison Hemlock Conium maculatum
Water Dropwort Cicuta maculata
Spotted Cowbane
Fools’ Parsley Aethusa cynapium
Apiaceae family genera include: (A to B)
Aciphylla
Acroglyphe
Acronema
Actinanthus
Actinolema
Actinotus
Adenosciadium
Adorium
Aegokeras
Aegopodium
Aethusa
Aframmi
Afroligusticum
Afrosciadium
Afrosison
Agasyllis
Agrocharis
Ainsworthia
Albertia
Albovia
Alepidea
Aletes
Alococarpum
Alposelinum
Ammi
Ammodaucus
Ammoides
Ammoselinum
Analyrium
Andriana
Anethum
Angelica
Anginon
Angoseseli
Anidrum
Anisactis
Anisopoda
Anisosciadium
Anisotome
Anisum
Annesorhiza
Anomopanax
Anthrichaerophyllum
Anthriscus
Aphanopleura
Apiastrum
Apinella
Apiopetalum
Apium
Apodicarpum
Arafoe
Archangelica
Archemora
Arctopus
Arcuatopterus
Arracacia
Artedia
Asciadium
Asteriscium
Astomaea
Astrantia
Astrodaucus
Astydamia
Atenia
Athamanta
Aulacospermum
Aulosolena
Aulospermum
Austropeucedanum
Autumnalia
Azilia
Azorella
Azorellopsis
Balinotella
Berula
Bifora
Bilacunaria
Billburttia
Birostula
Bolax
Bonannia
Bowlesia
Brachyscias
Bubon
Bulbocastanum
Buniotrinia
Bunium
Bupleurum
Buprestis
Bustillosia
