How to Identify the Apiaceae / Carrot Family

29 Mar, 2023

How to Identify the Apiaceae / Carrot Family

Daucus carota inflorescences are very typical for the Apiaceae family
Daucus carota inflorescences are very typical for the Apiaceae family

Table of contents

Introduction to the Apiaceae Family

The Apiaceae family is widespread globally but is particularly common in north temperate zones. It is well known for its many edible foods and herbs, including carrots, celery, parsley, dill, and many, many more. Most plants have a characteristic smell and possess small flowers in umbels, making the family fairly easy to spot in the field. The Apiaceae are part of the Apiales order of core dicot flowering plants. The very closely related Araliaceae family has many overlapping characteristics. In general, though, Apiaceae are usually herbs that produce dry schizocarps, while the Araliaceae are usually shrubs or trees and usually produce berry-like drupes.  

Flowers of the Apiaceae

Plants are usually hermaphrodite but may also be andromonoecious, polygamomonoecious, or dioecious (Acronema). Pollination is entomophilous.  Numerous small flowers are almost always in a characteristic flat-topped terminal cymose umbel(s). Otherwise, inflorescences are sometimes in cymose heads or rarely reduced to a single flower. Inflorescences may be pseudanthial and often associated with sterile flowers at the periphery and may or may not have involucral bracts. Flowers are usually actinomorphic but may be zygomorphic at the umbel edge. The petals are unequal in size, with those pointing outwards from the umbel larger than those pointing in. Flowers are usually fairly small, possess bracts, and may be regular to slightly irregular in the corolla.  Flowers are usually perfectly 5-merous (except for the gynoecium) and are tetracyclic. Free hypanthium is not present. The perianth usually has a distinct calyx and corolla (but the calyx is often very reduced). The perianth may be sepaline (corolla rarely absent) or petaline (calyx teeth sometimes absent) with 4–10 parts in two (or one) isomerous whorls. The calyx, when detectable, has five parts in one whorl that may be free or connate (often reduced to a rim but never forming a tube). Sepals are persistent and may be lobulate, blunt-lobed, or toothed. The corolla also has five parts in one whorl. The white, yellow, pink, or purple petals are always free, valvate, and may be unequal or regular. 

Androecium of the Apiaceae

The androecium has five members (all stamens) that are free of the perianth and each other. They are all equal to unequal and are found in 1 whorl. Their five stamens are all fertile, isomerous with the perianth, oppositisepalous, and inflexed in bud. Anthers are dorsifixed or basifixed, introrse, tetrasporangiate, and dehisce via longitudinal slits.

Gynoecium of the Apiaceae

The gynoecium is 2 carpelled, and the pistil is one or two-celled. The gynoecium is synovarious, median, and inferior. The ovary is 2(1) locular. An epigynous disk is present. Two apical styles are free to partly joined, with their bases thickened into one or two stylopodia that crown the ovary. Stigmas are wet type, non-papillate, and Group IV type. Placentation is either axile or apical. There are 1 or 2 ovules per locule (usually 2 with 1 abortive) that are pendulous and either epitropous or anatropous. Ovules have ventral raphe, are non-arillate, unitegmic, and are tenuinucellate or pseudocrassinucellate.  

Fruit of the Apiaceae

The fruits of the Apiaceae are non-fleshy dry schizocarps with 2 mericarps that are united facially. The mericarps are 1-seeded in each part, with the integument sometimes united with the pericarp. Seeds are oily and endospermic.

Habit & Leaf Form of the Apiaceae

Plants are usually soft-stemmed aromatic annual, biennial, or perennial herbs, but some have tough stems, and a few are even woody tree-like or shrubby species in the tropics. Stems are hollow between leaf joints and are often ribbed (Angelica, Celery).  Sometimes they are switch-plants, occasionally with the principal photosynthesizing function transferred to stems (e.g., Platysace compressa) or phyllodineous (petiole or rachis performs leaf function) (e.g., Lilaeopsis). Leaves are usually well-developed but can be reduced in switch forms. Plants are usually non-succulent but occasionally can be succulent (e.g., Crithmum) and may or may not have a basal aggregation of leaves. They can be helophytic, mesophytic, or xerophytic (e.g. Eryngium). Plants may be conspicuously heterophyllous (e.g., Apium inundatum) or not. Leaves are small to large and arranged alternate or alternate and opposite (usually just opposite on upper leaves). Leaves are usually herbaceous but may occasionally be leathery or rarely fleshy. Their attachment to the stem is either petiolate or sometimes perfoliate or peltate, more or less sheathing with sheaths that have free margins and may or may not be pulvinate. Leaves may or may not be gland-dotted and are usually fetid, and only rarely are they odorless. Leaf arrangement may be simple or compound ternate, imparipinnate, bipinnate, multiply compound, or rarely palmate.  Lamina, when simple, is usually dissected pinnatifid (usually), palmatifid (in Sanicula, Astrantia, Eryngium), or spinose (Eryngium), but sometimes may be entire.  They are pinnately, palmately, or parallel-veined. Leaves are usually exstipulate (but sometimes with stipular flanges) or sometimes stipulate (Hydrocotyloideae).

Uses of Apiaceae 

Many are used for culinary purposes, including Daucus (carrot), Pastinaca (parsnip), Apium (celery), Petroselinum (parsley), Pimpinella (anise), Carum (caraway), Anethum (dill), Anthriscus (chervil), Foeniculum (fennel) and Levisticum (lovage) to name some of the more common ones. Ornamental ones include Eryngium, Angelica, Heracleum, Trachymene, etc but note that many ornamentals have been modified and have enlarged bracts or sepals and are not representative of the family.  Many have useful medicinal purposes to treat a wide variety of ailments, yet others have notoriously poisonous resins or alkaloids such as Cicuta, Conium (hemlocks), Aethusa (fool’s parsley), and others are phototoxic (Heracleum mantegazzianum). 

Morphology of Apiaceae in North America

Inflorescence of Conium maculatum - a flat-topped umbel very typical of the Apiaceae family
Inflorescence of Conium maculatum – a flat-topped umbel very typical of the Apiaceae family
Bipinnate leaves of Chaerophyllum procumbens - a common leaf arrangement seen in Apiaceae
Bipinnate leaves of Chaerophyllum procumbens – a common leaf arrangement seen in Apiaceae
Herbaceous growth habit of Heracleum maximum - typical of Apiaceae species, though the palmate leaves are much less commonly seen.
Herbaceous growth habit of Heracleum maximum – typical of Apiaceae species, though the palmate leaves are much less commonly seen.
Herbaceous stem of Heracleum mantegazzianum - most Apiaceae members are herbaceous perennials or annuals.
Herbaceous stem of Heracleum mantegazzianum – most Apiaceae members are herbaceous perennials or annuals.
Flowers of Heracleum maximum in compound umbels. Small white flowers that become zygomorphic at the umbel edge are common among the Apiaceae.
Flowers of Heracleum maximum in compound umbels. Small white flowers that become zygomorphic at the umbel edge are common among the Apiaceae.
Fruits of Pastinaca sativa - these dry schizocarps in umbels are the most commonly seen fruit among the Apiaceae family.
Fruits of Pastinaca sativa – these dry schizocarps in umbels are the most commonly seen fruit among the Apiaceae family.

Apiaceae Species I have Covered So Far

Apioideae Subfamily

Anthriscus sylvestris inflorescence; introduced; Squamish, BC, Canada; Apiaceae family

Anthriscus sylvestris – Cow Parsley

Herbaceous perennial, 60 – 170 cm tall with hollow, striated, and grooved stems that are green with purple splotches and tiny hairs. Leaves are 2 – 3 times pinnate, about 45 cm long, and appear fern-like. Flowers are white, small, in compound umbels, and have downy oval bracteoles with red tips on the umbelets. Peduncles are hairless and grooved. Native to Eurasia and Africa, widely introduced in the Americas.

Bifora americana plant with flowers; native endemic; Palo Pinto County, TX, USA; Apiaceae family

Bifora Americana – Prairie Bishop

Herbaceous annual to 80 cm tall with deeply divided leaves with threadlike leaflets and tiny white flowers in compact compound umbels, petals have notched tips. Fruit is schizocarp. Endemic to the southern USA in Texas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas. This was in Palo Pinto County, TX, USA.

Chaerophyllum procumbens plant; North American Endemic; Acworth, GA, USA; Apiaceae family

Chaerophyllum procumbens – Spreading Chervil

Herbaceous annual 15 – 50 cm tall from slender branching shiny and finely hairy stems. Mostly hairless doubly compound pinnate leaves are fern-like in appearance. Flowers in small terminal compound umbels with 2 – 6 umbellets, each with 1 – 7 small white flowers that bloom before the umbel finishes expanding. Endemic to eastern North America.

Chaerophyllum tainturieri flowers & leaves; USA endemic; Suffolk, VA, USA

Chaerophyllum tainturieri – Hairyfruit Chervil

Herbaceous annual to 80 cm tall with erect stems, opposite bipinnately compound hirsute leaves. Flowers in few-flowered axillary umbels (not compound). Fruit is an oblong schizocarp. Native to the southeastern USA with disjunct populations in Arizona and New Mexico. This one was in Suffolk, VA, USA.

Cicuta douglasii plant in spring; North American endemic; Sechelt, BC, Canada

Cicuta douglasii – Western Water Hemlock

Herbaceous semi-aquatic perennial from thick tuberous roots. Inner tubers and stem bases have horizontal chambers used to help identify them. Leaves are alternate compound pinnate with 3 – 10 cm leaflets with jagged margins. Flowers in 12.5 cm compound umbels with numerous small white flowers. The most poisonous plant native to North America; endemic to the Pacific Northwest, mostly in BC, Canada.

Cicuta maculata plant; North America endemic; Lake of Ozarks, MO, USA

Cicuta maculata – Spotted Cowbane

Herbaceous, rhizomatous perennial with a hollow, erect stem to 1.8 m tall. Compound leaves with several lanceolate, pointy-tipped, serrated leaflets 2 – 10 cm long each. Flowers in compound umbels with many white or whitish flowers. The whole plant is poisonous. Native throughout North America from northern Canada to southern Mexico.

Conium maculatum plant with flowers; introduced species; Sunspot, NM, USA

Conium maculatum – Poison Hemlock

Herbaceous biennial 1.5 – 2.5 m tall, hairless, with smooth, green, hollow stems usually streaked with red or purple. Leaves are 2 – 4 times pinnately compound, finely divided, and lacy, about 50 cm long. Flowers are small and white in loose compound umbels. Native to Eurasia and Africa, widely introduced and invasive in North America.

Cyclospermum leptophyllum plant with floral buds; introduced; Acworth, GA, USA

Cyclospermum leptophyllum – Marsh Parsley

Herbaceous summer annual with branching stems up to 60 cm tall. Leaves are finely dissected and compound, with narrow leaflets. Flowers in small umbels are tiny and white and tinged with pink. Native around the world in tropical and warm temperate environments. Introduced in North America. This one was in Acworth, GA, USA.

Cymopterus glomeratus plant with flowers; North America endemic; Grand, UT, USA

Cymopterus glomeratus – Fendler’s Springparsley

Herbaceous perennial from a large taproot with a basal rosette of 2 – 3 times pinnately compound leaves. Flowers are in compound umbels in white, yellow, or purple. Fruit is a schizocarp with two flat, wide mericarps each containing one seed. Native to North America from southern Canada to northern Mexico. This one was in Grand, UT, USA.

Cymopterus lemmonii inflorescence; USA endemic; Cloudcroft, NM, UT, USA; Apiaceae family

Cymopterus lemmonii – Alpine False Spring Parsley

Herbaceous perennial to about 60 cm tall with pinnately compound leaves with sparse, narrow linear leaflets. Flowers in compound terminal umbels, densely packed, in yellow, orange-purple, or purple with petals that fold inwards at their tips. Grows from 5500 – 12000 ft ASL. Endemic to the west and southwestern USA. This was in Cloudcroft, NM.

Daucus carota inflorescence; introduced; Pike, IL, USA; Apiaceae family

Daucus carota – Wild Carrot

Herbaceous biennial 30 – 120 cm tall with a roughly hairy, stiff, solid stem. Tripinnate, finely divided leaves are 5 – 15 cm long, alternate. Flowers are small, whitish, in dense flat-topped terminal umbels 8 – 15 cm wide. Fruits are schizocarps that develop as the umbels contract and become congested. Native throughout the temperate Old World and widely introduced in the Americas.

Heracleum mantegazzianum plant; introduced invasive; West Sechelt, BC, Canada; Apiaceae family

Heracleum mantegazzianum – Giant Cow Parsnip

Herbaceous perennial 2 – 5 m tall with a hollow, rigid, erect green stem with prominent red-purple splotches and coarse white hairs. Leaves are about 1 m wide, deeply lobed, with incised margins. White or green-white flowers in compound umbels, flat-topped, up to 1 m across. Flowers may be radially or bilaterally symmetric. Eurasian native; widely introduced and invasive. Causes phototoxicity and contact dermatitis.

Heracleum maximum plant with flowers; North America native; Squamish, BC, Canada; Apiaceae family

Heracleum maximum – Cow Parsnip

Herbaceous perennial plant to 3 m tall with hollow, densely hairy stems that have no purple splotches. Leaves are deeply 3-lobed but not incised, up to 40 cm across. White flowers in compound umbels to 12″ across, may be flat-topped or rounded with outer flowers often much larger than inner flowers. Native to Canada & most of the USA, plus east Asia.

Lomatium ambiguum plant; North America endemic; Peachland BC, Canada; Apiaceae family

Lomatium ambiguum – Wyeth Biscuitroot

Herbaceous perennial 6 – 24 cm tall with purplish stems and pinnately compound leaves. Flowers are yellow in compound umbels. Native to northwest USA and southern BC, Canada. This was in Peachland BC, Canada.

Lomatium dissectum inflorescence; North America endemic; Lolo Forest, MT, USA; Apiaceae family

Lomatium dissectum – Fernleaf Biscuitroot

Herbaceous perennial to 1.2 m tall from a thick taproot; leaves mostly basal with petioles to 30 cm long and pinnately compound leaves with narrow leaflets. Flowers are yellow or reddish in compound umbels on a leafless peduncle 10 cm long. Fruit is an ovate schizocarp. Native throughout western North America. This was in Lolo Forest, MT, USA.

Lomatium foeniculaceum plant; North America endemic; Gloss Mountain, OK, USA; Apiaceae family

Lomatium foeniculaceum – Desert Biscuitroot

Herbaceous perennial herb to 30 cm tall from a taproot; stemless; pubescent leaf petioles and peduncle grow from the ground. Leaves are 2 – 4 times compound pinnate to 30 cm long. Flowers are small yellow, or purplish in compound umbels. The plant smells and tastes of parsley. Native to west and central North America. Photo Gloss Mountain, OK, USA.

Lomatium multifidum plant; North America endemic; Edgewood, BC, Canada; Apiaceae family

Lomatium multifidum – Fernleaved Desert Parsley

Herbaceous perennial 30 – 140 cm; hairless, puberulent, or scabrous with a scarious sheath at the base. Leaves 3 times compound pinnate 15 – 35 cm wide on 3 – 30 cm petiole. Yellowish flowers in compound umbels with about as many bractlets as flowers. Fruit a hairless schizocarp with thick wings. Native to western North America from BC, Canada, south to Baja California, Mexico.

Osmorhiza berteroi flowers; native to North America; Edgewood, BC, Canada; Apiaceae family

Osmorhiza berteroi – Mountain Sweet Cicily

Fragrant herbaceous perennial with a branching stem to 1m tall. Trifolate leaves up to 20 cm long with toothed or lobed margins and a long petiole. Small whitish flowers in terminal compound umbels with 4 – 10 flowers in each umbellet; central flowers often have only anthers. Fruit is elongated ribbed and bristly schizocarp to 2.5 cm long. Native to temperate North and South America.

Pastinaca sativa plant; introduced; Sangamon County, IL, USA; Apiaceae family

Pastinaca sativa – Wild Parsnip

Herbaceous biennial/perennial to 1.2 m tall; smells like parsnip. Leaves are alternate and compound pinnate. Leaflets are yellow-green, rhombic, and coarsely serrated. Numerous yellow flowers in compound umbles. Fruit is a schizocarp with two flattened, slightly winged mericarps. May cause photosensitivity. Native to Eurasia, widely introduced in the Americas and considered invasive.

Sium suave plant with flowers; native North America; Ross Coastal Plain Reserve, MI, USA; Apiaceae family

Sium suave – Water Parsnip

Herbaceous perennial to 3 m tall with light green hairless stems up to 5 cm thick with few branches. Leaves in basal rosettes or in clusters in aquatic habitats; those on stem are alternate and odd-pinnate. Flowers in small compound umbels with 10 – 20 small white flowers. Fruit is an indehiscent schizocarp. Native to Eurasia and North America.

Torilis arvensis flowers; introduced; Nashville, TN, USA; Apiaceae family

Torilis arvensis – Spreading Hedge Parsley

Herbaceous annual with slender, branching, rough-hairy stems to 1 m tall. Leaves are alternate and compound pinnate with deeply divided or coarsely toothed lanceolate leaflets up to 6 cm long each. Open compound umbels have few flowers per umbellet that have 5 unequal-sized petals in white with pink or red tinges. Fruits are greenish to pinkish, 3 – 5 mm long, and coated with straight or curved prickles. Native to Europe, introduced in North America. Nashville, TN, USA

Azorelloideae Subfamily

Bowlesia incana plants; native to North America; Nashville, TN, USA; Apiaceae family

Bowlesia incana – Hoary Bowlesia

Small herbaceous annual with thin, spreading stems to 60 cm long. Leaves on long petioles are multi-lobed, to 3 cm, with a round to reniform shape; surfaces are finely pubescent to puberulent. Yellow-green flowers are in small axillary clusters. Tiny inflated fruit is 2 mm wide. Native from southwestern and southeastern USA south to South America. Spreading outside its native range due to its ability to grow in lawns.

Saniculoideae Subfamily

Eryngium yuccifolium inflorescence; endemic North America; Nashville, TN, USA; Apiaceae family

Eryngium yuccifolium – Rattlesnake Master

Herbaceous perennial to 1.8 m tall with 15 – 100 cm long, stiff, 1 – 3 cm wide, sharp-tipped glaucous blue-green leaves with spiny margins. Flowers in dense, round, terminal flowerhead-like umbels made of 10 – 40 tiny condensed flowers with a faint honey scent and a spiny green bract beneath it, with another cluster of spiny bracts beneath the round umbel. Native to tall grass prairies of central and eastern USA.

Sanicula canadensis plant; endemic North America; Nashville, TN, USA; Apiaceae family

Sanicula canadensis – Canadian Blacksnake Root

Herbaceous biennial or perennial 0.3 – 1.4 m tall with usually trifoliate leaves with ovate, obovate, or broadly elliptic leaflets. Small pale green flowers in tiny bur-like compound umbels have sepals longer than their petals, followed by bur-like schizocarps with two mericarps. Native to eastern North America, west to Wyoming, USA. This was in Nashville, TN.

Sanicula odorata plant with fruits; native North America; Nashville, TN, USA; Apiaceae family

Sanicula odorata – Common or Clustered Blacksnake Root

Herbaceous perennial with compound leaves divided into 5 or sometimes 7 leaflets on the lower leaves with the upper leaves sometimes divided into 3. Flowers and anthers are small in dense bur-like compound umbels with styles and petals both longer than the sepals. Native throughout eastern North America. This was in Nashville, TN, USA.

Taxonomy of Apiaceae

3789-3820 spp in 440-446 genera of the Apiales Order of the core Eudicots. This family is divided into four main subfamilies.

  1. Apioideae – The largest subfamily and a diverse group of annual to perennial herbs or subshrubs or rarely to a small tree. Leaves are usually palmately divided but may be pinnate or simple and entire. Venation is pinnate, but some have parallel. Fruits are variable and may or may not be flattened, winged, or ribbed. Cosmopolitan distribution. 
  2. Azorelloideae – Annual herbs or small shrubs, often hummock-forming.  Leaves are simple, trifid to palmately lobed, stipulate. Fruit with wings or ribs where the wings or ribs are the largest. Mostly South American, particularly the Patagonia region.
  3. Mackinlayoideae – Annual herbs to shrubs. Leaves may or may not be pedately compound, palmate to simple, and are stipulate. Fruit is drupaceous and often laterally compressed. Mostly Old World Tropics.
  4. Saniculoideae – A diverse group of annual herbs and subshrubs to trees. Leaves may be tripinnately or palmately compound or simple and often pamately lobed, and some have hairy or spiny teeth. Inflorescences are usually simple umbels or capitulum, and bracts may be foliaceous or petaloid. Fruits may be barely to strongly compressed dorsally or laterally, may have 2-3 wings, or maybe scaly or spiny. Cosmopolitan distribution.    

Genera:

Apioideae: Aciphylla (46), Acronema (34), Actinanthus (1), Actinolema (2), Adenosciadium (1), Aegokeras (1 inc Olymposciadium), Aegopodium (11 inc Chamaele), Aethusa (1), Afroligusticum (14), Afrosciadium (18), Agasyllis (1), Alepidea (31), Ammi (3), Ammodaucus (1), Ammoides (3), Ammoselinum (4), Andriana (3), Anethum (2), Angelica (104 inc Sphenosciadium), Anginon (12), Angoseseli (1), Anisopoda (1), Anisosciadium (3), Anisotome (17), Annesorhiza (18), Anthriscus (13), Aphanopleura (5), Apiastrum (1), Apium (12), Apodicarpum (1), Arafoe (1), Arctopus (3), Arcuatopterus (5), Arracacia (42), Artedia (1), Asciadium (1), Astomaea (2), Astrantia (11 inc Transcaucasia), Astrodaucus (3), Astydamia (1), Athamanta (12 inc Tinguarra), Aulacospermum (15), Austropeucedanum (1), Autumnalia (2), Azilia (1), Berula (6 inc Afrocarum), Bifora (3), Billburttia (2), Bonannia (1), Bunium (32), Bupleurum (213), Cachrys (12 inc Bilacunaria), Calyptrosciadium (2), Canaria (1), Cannaboides (2), Capnophyllum (4), Carlesia (1), Caropodium (3), Caropsis (1), Carum (22), Caucalis (1), Cenolophium (1), Cephalopodum (3), Chaerophyllopsis (1), Chaerophyllum (69 inc Myrrhoides, Oreomyrrhis), Chaetosciadium (1), Chamaesciadium (1), Chamaesium (10), Chamarea (5 inc Trachysciadium), Changium (2), Choritaenia (1), Chuanminshen (1), Chymsydia (2), Cicuta (4), Cnidiocarpa (2), Cnidium (8), Coaxana (2), Conioselinum (16), Conium (6), Conopodium (8), Coriandrum (2), Cortia (4), Cortiella (4), Cotopaxia (2), Coulterophytum (4), Crithmum (1), Cryptotaenia (6), Cuminum (4), Cyathoselinum (1), Cyclorhiza (2), Cyclospermum (3), Cymbocarpum (5), Cymopterus (44 inc Aletes, Oreoxis, Pseudocymopterus, Pteryxia), Cynorhiza (3), Cynosciadium (1), Dactylaea (2), Dahliaphyllum (1), Dasispermum (7 inc Sonderina), Daucosma (1), Daucus (43 inc Agrocharis, Melanoselinum, Monizia, Pachyctenium, Pseudorlaya, Rouya, Tornabenea), Demavendia (1), Dethawia (1), Deverra (9), Dichoropetalum (34), Dichosciadium (1), Dickinsia (1), Dicyclophora (1), Dimorphosciadium (2), Diplaspis (3), Diplolophium (7), Diplotaenia (5), Donnellsmithia (19), Dracosciadium (2), Drusa (1), Ducrosia (6), Dystaenia (2), Echinophora (11), Ekimia (4), Elaeosticta (25 inc Muretia), Eleutherospermum (1), Elwendia (27), Enantiophylla (1), Endressia (2), Eremodaucus (1), Ergocarpon (1), Erigenia (1), Eurytaenia (2), Exoacantha (1), Ezosciadium (1), Falcaria (1), Fergania (1), Ferula (213 inc Dorema, Eriosynaphe, Schumannia, Soranthus), Ferulago (47), Ferulopsis (2), Foeniculum (3), Frommia (1), Froriepia (2), Fuernrohria (1), Galagania (5 inc Korovinia), Geocaryum (2), Gingidia (12), Glaucosciadium (2), Glehnia (1), Glia (3), Gongylosciadium (1), Gongylotaxis (1), Grafia (1), Grammosciadium (4), Halosciastrum (1), Haloselinum (1), Hansenia (5 inc Haplosphaera, Notopterygium), Haplosciadium (1), Harbouria (1), Harperella (1),  Harrysmithia (2), Haussknechtia (1), Hellenocarum (3), Helosciadium (4), Heptaptera (8), Heracleum (86 inc Wendia), Heteromorpha (8 inc Aframmi), Hladnikia (1), Hohenackeria (2), Homalocarpus (6), Homalosciadium (1), Horstrissea (1), Hyalolaena (9), Hymenidium (39), Hymenolaena (3), Itasina (1), Johrenia (5), Kadenia (2), Kafirnigania (1), Kailashia (2), Kalakia (1), Kamelinia (1), Kandaharia (1), Karatavia (1), Karnataka (1), Kedarnatha (6), Kelussia (1), Kenopleurum (1), Keraymonia (4), Kitagawia (9), Klotzschia (3), Komarovia (1),  Korshinskia (4), Kozlovia (2), Krasnovia (1), Krubera (1), Kundmannia (3 inc Arduina), Kuramosciadium (1), Ladyginia (3 inc Spongiosyndesmus), Lagoecia (1), Lalldhwojia (4), Laser (7 inc Polylophium), Laserpitium (10), Lecokia (1), Ledebouriella (1), Lefebvrea (8 inc Erythroselinum), Leiotulus (10), Lereschia (1), Leutea (9), Levisticum (1), Lichtensteinia (6), Lignocarpa (2), Ligusticopsis (17), Ligusticum (40), Lilaeopsis (13), Limnosciadium (1), Lipskya (1), Lisaea (3), Lithosciadium (2), Lomatium (101 inc Orogenia), Lomatocarpa (3), Lomatocarum (1), Magadania (2), Magydaris (2), Marlothiella (1), Mastigosciadium (1), Mathiasella (1), Mediasia (1), Meeboldia (2 inc Sinodielsia), Melanosciadium (3), Meum (1), Modesciadium (1), Mogoltavia (2), Molopospermum (1), Musineon (6), Mutellina (3), Myrrhidendron (5), Myrrhis (1), Nanobubon (3), Naufraga (1), Neoconopodium (1), Neogaya (1), Neogoezia (5), Neomuretia (2), Neonelsonia (1), Neoparrya (1), Niphogeton (18), Nirarathamnos (1), Normantha (1), Nothosmyrnium (2), Notiosciadium (1), Notobubon (12), Oedibasis (4), Oenanthe (33), Oligocladus (1), Oliveria (1), Opoidia (1), Opopanax (4 inc Crenosciadium), Opsicarpium (1), Oreocome (8), Oreocomopsis (3), Oreonana (3), Oreoschimperella (3), Orlaya (3), Ormopterum (2), Ormosciadium (1), Osmorhiza (12), Ostericum (11), Ottoa (1), Oxypolis (4), Pachypleurum (2), Palimbia (3), Paraligusticum (1), Parapimpinella (1), Paraselinum (1), Parasilaus (2), Pastinaca (15 inc Malabaila), Pastinacopsis (1), Paulita (2), Pedinopetalum (1), Perideridia (13), Perissocoeleum (4), Petroedmondia (1), Petroselinum (1 inc Wydleria), Peucedanum (71 inc Imperatoria), Phellolophium (1), Phlojodicarpus (3), Phlyctidocarpa (1), Physospermopsis (8), Physospermum (2), Physotrichia (6 inc Spuriodaucus), Pilopleura (2), Pimpinella (152 inc Afrosison, Albovia), Pinda (1 inc Polyzygus), Pleurospermopsis (1), Pleurospermum (13), Podistera (4), Polemannia (3), Polemanniopsis (2), Polytaenia (3), Portenschlagiella (1), Postiella (1), Prangos (48 inc Alococarpum, Neocryptodiscus), Prionosciadium (21), Psammogeton (8), Pseudocannaboides (1), Pseudocarum (2), Pseudoridolfia (1), Pseudoselinum (1), Pseudotrachydium (5), Pternopetalum (20), Pterygopleurum (1), Ptilimnium (5), Ptychotis (2), Pycnocycla (15), Pyramidoptera (1), Registaniella (1), Rhabdosciadium (8), Rhizomatophora (1), Rhodosciadium (15), Rhopalosciadium (1), Rhysopterus (1), Ridolfia (1), Rivasmartinezia (2), Rohmooa (1), Rupiphila (1), Rutheopsis (1), Sajanella (1), Saposhnikovia (1), Scaligeria (6), Scandia (2), Scandix (12), Scaraboides (1),Schoenoselinum (1), Schrenkia (12 inc Kosopoljanskia), Schtschurowskia (2), Schulzia (4), Sclerochorton (1), Sclerosciadium (1), Sclerotiaria (1), Scrithacola (1), Selinopsis (2), Selinum (11), Semenovia (27 inc Merwiopsis, Neoplatytaenia), Seseli (144 inc Eriocycla, Lomatopodium, Sphenocarpus), Seselopsis (2), Shoshonea (1), Siculosciadium (1), Silaum (1), Siler (4), Sillaphyton (1), Silphiodaucus (2), Sinocarum (19),  Sinolimprichtia (1), Sison (2), Sium (10), Sivadasania (1), Smyrniopsis (2), Smyrnium (5), Spananthe (2), Spermolepis (11), Sphaenolobium (3), Sphaerosciadium (1), Sphallerocarpus (1), Spiroceratium (1), Spuriopimpinella (6), Stefanoffia (2), Steganotaenia (3), Stenocoelium (4), Stenosemis (2), Stenotaenia (5), Stewartiella (1), Stoibrax (3), Symphyoloma (1), Synclinostyles (2), Szovitsia (1), Taenidia (2), Taeniopetalum (2), Tamamschjanella (2), Tamamschjania (1), Tana (1), Tauschia (34), Tetrataenium (20), Thamnosciadium (1), Thapsia (20 inc Elaeoselinum), Thaspium (4), Thecocarpus (2), Tiedemannia (2), Tilingia (2), Todaroa (1), Tongoloa (15), Tordyliopsis (1), Tordylium (20 inc Ainsworthia, Synelcosciadium), Torilis (14), Trachydium (12), Trachyspermum (20), Trepocarpus (1), Tricholaser (2), Trigonosciadium (6 inc Mandenovia), Trinia (9 inc Rumia), Trocdaris (1), Trochiscanthes (1), Tschulaktavia (1), Turgenia (2), Turgeniopsis (1 inc Glochidotheca), Vanasushava (1), Vesper (6), Vicatia (5), Villarrealia (1), Vinogradovia (1), Visnaga (2). Vvedenskya (1), Xanthogalum (3), Xatardia (1), Xyloselinum  (3), Yabea (1), Zeravschania (12), Zizia (3), Zosima (4).

Azorelloideae: Asteriscium (9), Azorella (53 inc Laretia, Mulinum, Schizeilema), Bolax (2), Bowlesia (16), Diposis (3), Domeykoa (5), Eremocharis (9), Gymnophyton (6), Huanaca (2), Microsciadium (1), Oschatzia (2), Pozoa (2), Schizeilema (?), Stilbocarpa (?).

Mackinlayoideae: Actinotus (20), Apiopetalum (2), Brachyscias (1), Centella (50), Chlaenosciadium (1),  Mackinlaya (5), Micropleura (2), Pentapeltis (2), Schoenolaena (1), Xanthosia (20).

Saniculoideae: Eryngium (247), Hacquetia (?), Petagnia (inc Petagnaea) (1), Sanicula (47 inc Hacquetia).

Unplaced: Hermas (9), Platysace (23).

Key Differences From Similar Families

Apiaceae are both similar to and closely related to Araliaceae, and often, the two can be hard to differentiate. However, some more common differences include the fact that the Apiaceae are usually herbs vs usually shrubs and trees in the Araliaceae, the leaves that usually lack stipules in Apiaceae vs usually present in Araliaceae, and the fruit is a dry schizocarp with two mericarps vs a berry-like drupe in the Araliaceae.

Distribution of Apiaceae

The Apiaceae are found in frigid to tropical zones and are cosmopolitan but mainly North temperate.

Distribution of Apiaceae in the Americas

Canadian Genera Include:

Apioideae:Aegopodium 1 of 11 Eurasian spp intro all S Canada exc AB, Labrador; Aethusa monospecific European sp intro ON, QC, NB, NS; Anethum 1 of 2 Mediterranean spp intro all S provinces exc NS, NB, PE, NL; Angelica  9 of 104 N temperate spp native all of Canada (& GL) exc SK, MB; Anthriscus 3 of 13 mostly Eurasian spp intro BC, ON, QC, NB, NS NL (exc Labrador); Apium 1 of 12 temperate & subtropical Old World & SAM spp native extirpated NS; Astrantia 1 of 11 S European spp intro NL (exc Labrador); Berula 1 of 6 subcosmopolitan spp native BC, ON; Bunium 1 of 32 Mediterranean & Indian spp intro NL?; Bupleurum 2 of 213 sub cosmopolitan spp native YT, AB, NT, BC intro QC, ON; Carum  1 of 22 Eurasian spp intro all Canada exc YT, Labrador; Chaerophyllum 3 of 69 mostly N temperate spp intro BC, native ON, QC?; Cicuta 4 of 4 N temperate spp native all of Canada inc Arctic; Cnidium 1 of 8 mostly E Asian spp native BC, YT, NT; Conioselinum 2 of 16 N temperate spp native BC, ON, NL, NB, NS, PE; Conium 1 of 6 mostly Eurasin spp intro BC, AB, SK, ON, QC, NB, NS; Conopodium 1 of 8 Eurasian spp intro NL (exc Labrador); Coriandrum 1 of 2 Middle East spp intro ON, QC, NS; Cryptotaenia 1 of 6 mostly African spp a former NAM endemic native in MB, ON, QC, extirpated NB, now intro Austria; Cymopterus 1 of 44 NAM endemic spp native BC?, AB, SK, MB; Daucus 1 of 43 cosmopolitan spp native BC intro rest of S provinces; Erigenia monospecific E NAM endemic sp native ON; Foeniculum 1 of 3 Mediterranean spp intro BC, ON, QC, cultivated fennel; Glehnia monospecific E Asia & NW NAM sp native BC; Heracleum 4 of 83 mostly Eurasian spp inc 1 sp native all Canada exc NU and 3 spp intro BC, YT, ON, QC, NB, NS, PE, NL (exc Labrador); Levisticum monospecific Middle Eastern sp intro AB, ON, QC, NS; Ligusticum 6 of 40 N temperate spp native BC, ON, QC, NL, NS, NB, PE, NU (& GL); Lilaeopsis 2 of 13 Americas & Australasia spp native BC, NS; Lomatium 20 of 101 W+C NAM endemic spp native BC, AB, SK, MB; Musineon 1 of 6 spp C NAM endemic spp native AB, SK, MB; Myrrhis monospecific S Europe sp intro BC, ON, NS, NL (exc Labrador); Oenanthe 1 of 33 mostly N temperate spp native BC; Osmorhiza 6 of 12 mostly Americas spp native all of Canada, 1 sp native temperate Asia; Oxypolis 2 of 4 NAM endemic spp native BC, ON; Pastinaca 1 of 15 Eurasian spp intro all of Canada exc NU, Labrador; Perideridia 1 of 13 NAM endemic spp native BC, AB, SK; Petroselinum monospecific Mediterranean sp (parsley) intro BC, ON; Peucedanum (inc Imperatoria) 1 of 71 Eurasian spp intro ON, NS; Pimpinella 2 of 152 Old World spp intro AB, ON, QC, NB, NS, NL (exc Labrador); Podistera 2 of 4 temperate NE Asia & NW NAM spp native YT, NT; Scandix 1 of 12 Mediterranean & C Asia spp intro BC?, SK?, ON?; Sium 1 of 10 N temperate spp native all Canada inc Arctic, exc Labrador; Taenidia 1 of 2 E NAM endemic spp native ON, QC; Thaspium 3 of 4 E NAM endemic spp native ON, NS; Torilis 3 of 14 Old World spp intro BC, ON, QC; Yabea monospecific W NAM endemic sp native BC; Zizia 2 of 3 N NAM endemic spp native all S Canada ex PE, NL, inc YT. Saniculoideae: Eryngium 4 of 247 subcosmopolitan spp intro BC, AB, SK, ON, QC; Sanicula 9 of 47 cosmopolitan spp native all of S Canada exc Labrador.  

USA Genera Include:

Apioideae: Aegopodium 1  of 11 Eurasian spp intro WA, OR, ID, MT, MN, WI, IL, MO, KY, TN, GA, SC, NC, VA, WV, MD, DE, IN, OH, MI, PA, NJ, NY, CT, RI, MA, VT, NH, ME; Aethusa monospecific European sp intro ID, AR, MN, WI, IL, IN, OH, KY, MI, WV, PA, DE, NJ, NY, CT, RI, MA, ME; Ammi 2 of 3 Mediterranean & Azores spp intro OR, CA, AZ, TX, LA, MS, AL, GA, FL, SC, NC, MO, SD, PA; Ammoselinum 3 of 4 Americas endemic spp native CA, AZ, NM, TX, LA, OK, KS, AR, MO, MS, TN, NC, intro AL, inc 1 S USA endemic sp; Anethum 1 of 2 Mediterranean spp intro in most USA exc ID, NV, UT, WY, NM, TN, MS, AL, GA, SC, FL, VT, NH and inc HI; Angelica 22 of 104 N temperate spp native all USA inc AK but exc ND, SD, NE, KS, TX; Anthriscus 3  of 13 mostly Eurasian spp intro WA, OR, CA, ID, MT, WY, AZ, NE, OK, MN, MO, AR, LA, GA, SC, NC, TN, VA, WV, MD, DE, WI, IL, IN, OH, MI, PA, NJ, NY, CT, RI, MA, VT, ME; Apiastrum monospecific SW NAM endemic sp native CA, AZ; Apium 4 of 12 temperate & subtropical Old World & SAM spp intro in WA, OR, CA, ID, UT, AZ, TX, OK, SD, MO, LA, IL, TN, MS, FL, SC, NC, OH, WV, PA, NJ, NY, CT, MA; Berula 1 of 6 subcosmopolitan spp native all W USA from MN S to LA and all states W exc LA and inc MI, NY; Bifora 3 of 3 American & Mediterranean spp inc 1 sp endemic S USA in TX, OK, AR and 2 spp intro AL, PA, MD, NJ, RI; Bupleurum 4 of 213 sub cosmopolitan spp native AK, native and intro most of USA exc WA, NV, UT, ND, NE, OK, MN, IA, WI, RI, ME, MS, SC; Carum 1 of 22 Eurasian spp intro all N half of USA from OR E to NJ and all N exc NE and inc UT, CO, NM, LA, MO, TN, KY, WV, VA, MD, NC; Caucalis monospecific Mediterranean sp intro PA and HI; Chaerophyllum 4 of 69 mostly N temperate spp intro and native most E USA ND S to TX and all E exc ND, SD, MN, CT, MA, VT, NH, ME and inc AZ, NM; Cicuta 4 of 4 N temperate spp native all USA inc AK; Cnidium 2 of 8 mostly E Asian spp ink 1 sp native AK and 1 sp intro OR; Conioselinum 4 of 16 N temperate spp native most of USA inc AK exc ID, NV, ND, SD, KS, OK, TX, AR, MS, AL, SC, FL, TN, KY, WV, MD, DE; Conium 1 of 6 mostly Eurasian spp intro all USA exc MS, FL; Coriandrum 1 of 2 Middle East spp intro WA, OR, CA, NV, MT, ND, SD, AZ, NM, TX, OK, LA, FL, MO, IL, TN, SC, NC, VA, DE, MD, MI, OH, PA, NJ, NY, CT, RI, MA and HI; Cryptotaenia 1 of 6 mostly African spp a former NAM endemic native all E USA from ND S to TX and every state E, now intro Austria; Cuminum 1 of 4 Middle East & C-W Asia spp intro TX, MA; Cyclospermum 1 of 3 former Mexico & Neo endemic sp intro all S USA NM E to NC and inc CA, NV, OR, IL, VA, WV, MD, PA, NY and HI; Cymopterus (inc Aletes, Oreoxis, Pseudocymopterus, Pteryxia) 43 of 44 spp native to all W half of USA from ND S to TX but exc WA, inc MN; Cynosciadium monospecific S USA endemic of TX, OK, LA, AR, MO, IL, TN, MS, AL; Daucosma monospecific narrow endemic of NM, TX; Daucus 1 of 43 cosmopolitan spp native and intro all USA; Erigenia monospecific E NAM endemic sp native most of E USA WI S to MS and all E exc FL, SC, DE, NJ, CT, RI, MA, VT, NH, ME and inc KS, OK, MO, AR; Eurytaenia 2 of 2 S USA endemic spp of NM, TX, OK, inc 1 narrow endemic of TX; Falcaria monospecific Eurasian sp intro WY, SD, NE, OK, LA, IA, MO, WI, IL, WV, VA, MD, PA, NY, CT; Foeniculum 1 of 3 Mediterranean spp intro most of USA exc ID, MT, WY, CO, ND, SD, OK, MN, AL, VT, NH and inc HI, cultivated fennel; Glehnia monospecific E Asia & NW NAM sp native WA, OR, CA; Harbouria monospecific C USA endemic of WY, CO, NM; Harperella monospecific SE USA endemic of AL, AK, MS, GA, SC, NC, VA, MD, OK; Helosciadium 1 of 4 Eurasian & African spp intro CA, PA, NJ; Heracleum 3 of 83 mostly Eurasian spp inc 1 sp native and 2 spp intro most USA exc TX, OK, AR, LA, MS, AL, FL, SC, and native AK; Levisticum monospecific Middle Eastern sp intro intro CO, NM, MO, MN, MI, OH, PA, NJ, NY, CT, MA, VT, ME; Ligusticum 11 of 40 N temperate spp native all W and E states inc AK but exc ND S to TX and also exc MN, IA, LA, FL, WI, IL, MI, VT; Lilaeopsis 6 Americas & Australasia spp native WA, OR, CA, AZ, TX, LA, AR, MS, AL, FL, GA, SC, VA, NC, MD, NY, NJ, MA, NH, ME and AK; Limnosciadium monospecific S+E USA endemic of TX, OK, KS, LA, AR, MS, MO, IA; Lomatium (inc Orogenia) 89 of 101 W+C NAM endemic spp native all W USA MN S to LA and all W exc AR, LA, most are narrow endemics of the USA; Musineon 6 of 6 C NAM endemic spp native ID, MT, WY, CO, NV, UT, NM, ND, SD, NE, inc 4 endemic to the USA which inc 3 narrow endemics of MT (1), ID + UT (2); Myrrhis monospecific S Europe sp intro OR, MI, PA; Neoparrya monospecific narrow S-C USA endemic of NM, CO; Oenanthe 4 of 33 mostly N temperate spp native WA, OR, CA and AK and intro MO, OH, MD; Oreonana 3 of 3 narrow endemic spp of CA; Osmorhiza 8 of 12 mostly Americas spp native all USA inc AK but exc FL, LA, inc 1 endemic to USA, 1 sp in genus native temperate Asia; Oxypolis 4 of 4 NAM endemic spp native all USA exc WA, ID, WY, NV, ND, SD, NE, KS, inc 2 spp endemic to S USA; Pastinaca 1 of 15 Eurasian spp intro in all USA exc MS, AL, GA, FL; Perideridia 13 of 13 NAM endemic spp native most of USA exc all E and NE Atlantic states as well as WV,  TX, LA, NE, ND, MN, IA, WI, inc 12 spp endemic to USA; Petroselinum monospecific Mediterranean sp (parsley) intro WA, CA, NV, UT, ID, MT, KS, TX, LA, AR, MS, FL, GA, SC, NC, IA, MI, OH, PA, MD, NJ, NY, CT, RI, MA and HI; Peucedanum 3 of 71 mostly Eurasian spp intro TN, PA, NY, WV, MA, native HI; Pimpinella 3 of 152 Old World spp intro WA, MT, MN, WI, TN, IN, MI, OH, VA, WV, MD, DE, PA, NJ, NY, CT, MA, VT, ME; Podistera 4 of 4 NE Asia & NW NAM spp native CA, UT, CO, NM and AK; Polytaenia 3 of 3 E USA endemic spp of ND, NE, KS, OK, TX, MN, IA, MO, AR, LA, MS, AL, TN, KY, WI, IL, IN, MI; Ptilimnium 5 of 5 USA & Caribbean endemic spp native in most of SE USA from KS S to TX and E to NJ exc IN, OH and inc SD, NY, CT, RI, MA, inc 4 spp endemic to USA; Rhysopterus monospecific W USA endemic OR, ID, NV; Scandix 1  of 12 Mediterranean & C Asia spp intro WA, OR, CA, AZ, TX, SD, AL, GA, FL, SC, NC, TN, OH, MI, PA, MD, NJ, NY, RI, MA; Selinum 1 of 11 mostly European spp intro MA, NY?; Seseli 1 of 144 mostly Eurasian spp intro MD; Shoshonea monospecific narrow endemic of WY, MT; Sium 2 of 10 N temperate spp native all USA inc AK but exc OK; Smyrnium 1 of 5 Mediterranean spp intro AL; Spermolepis 9 of 11 Americas endemic spp native in most of S+E USA from ND S to TX and all E exc WI, MI, OH, WV, PA, CT, RI, MA, VT, NH, ME and inc NM, AZ, CA and HI, inc 6 endemic to USA, 5 of which are narrow endemics of SW CA (1), TX (1), AZ + CA(extirpated) (1), NM (1), HI (1); Taenidia 2 of 2 E NAM endemic spp native in all E half of USA from ND S to TX and all E exc ME, NH, CT, FL, ND, NE, inc 1 narrow endemic of NE USA; Tauschia 10 of 34 Americas endemic spp native WA, ID, OR, CA, TX; Thaspium 4 of 4 spp endemic E NAM native all E USA from ND S to TX and all E exc ND, SD, NE, CT, MA, VT, NH, ME, inc 1 sp endemic to E USA; Tiedemannia 2 of 2 S USA & Caribbean endemic spp native TX, LA, MS, AL, GA, FL, SC, NC, MD, extirpated DE, inc 1 sp endemic S USA; Tilingia 1 of 2 NE Asia & AK spp native AK; Tordylium 1 of 20 Mediterranean spp intro AZ; Torilis 5 of 14 Old World spp intro most of USA exc MT S to NM, also exc NV, ND, SD, MN, DE, CT, RI, VT, NH, ME and inc HI; Trachyspermum 1 of 20 Middle East & S Asia spp intro MI; Trepocarpus monospecific SE USA endemic TX, OK, LA, AR, MO, KY, TN, MS, AL, GA, FL, SC; Turgenia 1 of 2 Mediterranean + C Asia spp intro WA, OR, PA; Vesper  6 of 6 SW NAM endemic spp native CA, NV, ID, UT, AZ, WY, CO, NM, SD, NE, KS, OK, TX, inc 5 spp endemic to SW USA; Visnaga  1 of 2 Mediterranean spp intro CA, OR?, AL, TX?, FL?, NC?, PA?; Yabea monospecific W NAM endemic sp native WA, ID, OR, CA, NV, UT, AZ, NM; Zizia 3 of 3 N NAM endemic spp native in all USA exc CA, AZ, NM, inc 1 sp endemic to SE USA. Azorelloideae: Bowlesia 1 of 16 former Americas endemic spp native OR, CA, NV, AZ, NM, TX, OK, LA, MS, AL, FL, now intro France, Pakistan. Mackinlayoideae: Centella 2 of 50 mostly S Africa & pantropical spp intro and native WA, TX, LA, AR, MS, AL, GA, FL, SC, NC, VA, MD, DE, OH, NJ and intro HI. Saniculoideae: Eryngium 34 of 247 subcosmopolitan spp native and intro all USA exc UT, WY, MT, ND; Sanicula 22 of 47 cosmopolitan spp native in all USA exc AZ, UT and inc HI.

Mexico Genera Include:

Apioideae: Ammi 1 of 3 Mediterranean & Azores spp intro SW Mexico; Ammoselinum 2 of 3 Americas endemic spp native BCN, BCS, Son, Sin, Chi, Dgo, Zac, Coa, NL, Tam, SLP, Gto, Qro, Ags, Hgo; Angelica ?? of 104 N temperate spp native most of Mexico exc BCN, BCS, Son, Sin, Chp, Tab, Cam, Yuc, QR; Apiastrum monospecific SW NAM sp native BC, BCS, Son, Sin?; Apium 1 of 12 temperate & subtropical Old World & SAM spp intro NW Mexico; Arracacia ?? of 42 Mexico & Neo endemic spp native through all of Mexico; Berula 1 of 6 sub cosmopolitan spp native Nay, Jal, Col, Mch, Gro, Oax, Chp, Pue, Cam, Yuc, QR; Chaerophyllum ?? of 69 mostly N temperate spp native N+SW+C Mexico, Ver; Cicuta 2 of 4 N temperate spp native Chi, Coa, NL, Tam, Dgo, Zac, Gto, Qro, Ags, SLP, Hgo; Coaxana 2 of 2 Mexico + CAM endemic spp native Nay, Jal, Col, Mch, Gro, Oax, Chp, Cam, Tab, Yuc, QR, inc 1 narrow endemic of Gro + Oax; Conioselinum  1 of 16 N temperate spp native BC, BCS, Son, Sin, Chi, Coa, NL, Tam, Dgo, Zac, Ags, Gto, Qro, Hgo, SLP, Nay, Jal, Col, Mch, Gro, Oax; Coriandrum 1 of 2 Middle East spp intro NW+C Mexico; Coulterophytum 4 of 4 Mexico endemic spp, all narrow endemics of Mch (1), Jal (2), Dgo + Sin + Nay (1); Cuminum 1 of 4 Middle East & C-W Asia spp intro  Chi, Coa, NL, Tam, Dgo, Zac; Cyclospermum 1 of 3 former Mexico & Neo endemic spp native most of Mexico exc BC, BCS, Son, Sin where it is intro, also intro pantropical; Cymopterus ?? of 44 NAM endemic spp native much of Mexico exc Mex, Cd Mex, Mor, Tlx, Pue, Ver, Tab, Cam, Yuc, QR; Dahliaphyllum monospecific endemic of Nay, Jal, Col, Mch, Gro, Oax; Daucus ?? of 43 cosmopolitan spp native all of Mexico inc Mexican Pacific Is; Donnellsmithia 19 of 19 Mexico + N Neo endemic spp native through all of Mexico, inc 17 spp endemic to Mexico, 11 of which are narrow endemics of Coa (1), Chi (1), Dgo + Nay (1), Zac + Jal (1),  Mex + Mch (1), Oax + Chp (1), Chp (1), SW Mexico (1), SW+C Mexico (3); Enantiophylla monospecific Mexico & CAM endemic sp native much of Mexico exc Ver, Tab, Cam, Yuc, QR; Ligusticum ?? of 40 N temperate spp native BC, BCS, Son, Sin, Chi, Coa, NL, Tam, Dgo, Zac, Ags, SLP, Hgo, Gto, Qro; Lilaeopsis 1 of 13 Americas & Australasia spp native much of Mexico exc Chp, Tab, Cam, Yuc, QR; Lomatium ?? of 101 W+C NAM endemic spp native BC, BCS, Son, Sin; Mathiasella monospecific endemic NE Mexico Chi, Coa, NL, Tam, Dgo, SLP, Zac, Gto, Ags, Qro, Hgo; Musineon 1 of 6 C NAM endemic spp native Son, Chi, Coa; Myrrhidendron 1 of 5 Neo endemic spp ative Chp, Tab, Cam, Yuc, QR; Neogoezia 5 of 5 Mexican endemic spp of N+SW+C Mexico, Ver; Neonelsonia monospecific Neo endemic native Nay, Jal, Col, Mch, Gro, Oax, Chp, Tab, Cam, Yuc, QR; Oenanthe ?? of 33 mostly N temperate spp native Nay, Jal, Col, Mch, Gro; Osmorhiza 3 of 12 mostly Americas spp native most of Mexico exc SE Mexico, inc 1 narrow endemic of NL; Ottoa monospecific N Neo endemic sp native Nay, Jal, Col, Mch, Gro, Chp, Ver, Tab, Cam, Yuc, QR; Petroselinum monospecific Mediterranean sp intro Mex, Cd Mex, Mor, Pue; Prionosciadium 21 of 21 Mexico & Gautemala endemic spp native all of Mexico, inc 20 spp endemic to Mexico, which inc 8 narrow endemics of Mex + Mch (1), Coa + NL (1), Jal + Nay (1), Zac + Jal (1), SLP (1), Chi (1), Tam (1), Col (1); Rhodosciadium 15 of 15 Mexico & Guatemala endemic spp native all of Mexico, inc 14 spp endemic to Mexico, 4 of which are narrow endemics of SLP (1), Oax (1), Jal (1), Chp (1); Spananthe 1 of 2 Mexico & Neo endemic spp native in all of Mexico;  Spermolepis 4 of 11 Americas endemic spp native BC, BCS, Son, Sin, Chi, Coa, NL, Tam, Dgo, Zac, Ags, Hgo, SLP, Ver;  Tauschia ?? of 34 Americas endemic spp native all of Mexico; Torilis ?? of 14 Old World spp intro NE Mexico Coa, Chi, NL, Tam, Dgo, Zac, Gto, SLP, Qro; Vesper 1 of 6 SW NAM endemic spp native BCN, Son;  Villarrealia monospecific narrow Mexico endemic Coa, NL; Visnaga 1 of 2 Mediterranean spp intro SW Mexico;  Yabea monospecific W NAM endemic sp native NW Mexico. Azorelloideae: Bowlesia 2 of 16 former Americas endemic spp native N+C+SW Mexico. Mackinlayoideae: Centella ?? of 50 mostly S Africa & pantropical spp native Chi, Coa, Dgo, NL, Tam, Zac, Gto, Qro, Ags, SLP, Hgo; Micropleura 1 of 2 Mexico & N Neo endemic spp native all of Mexico. Saniculoideae: Eryngium ?? of 247 subcosmopolitan spp native all of Mexico; Sanicula ?? of 47 cosmopolitan spp native all of Mexico. 

Neotropical Genera Include:

Apioideae: Ammi 2 of 3 Mediterranean & Azores spp intro Bermuda, Bahama, Cuba, Hispaniola, Guatemala, El Salvador, Colombia, Argentina, S Brazil, Uruguay; Ammoselinum 1 of 4 Americas endemic spp a narrow endemic of NE Argentina + Uruguay; Anethum 1 of 2 Mediterranean spp intro Guatemala, Bahamas, Greater Antilles, Leeward & Windward Is, Ecuador, Peru, NE Argentina, S+SE Brazil; Anthriscus ??  of 13 mostly Eurasian spp intro C Chile, NW Argentina; Apium 9 of 12 temperate & subtropical Old World & SAM spp inc 8 spp native Bolivia, Chile, Juan Fernandez Is, Desventurados Is, Argentina, Paraguay, S+SE Brazil, Uruguay and 1 sp intro intro Guatemala, Bermuda, Cuba, Hispaniola, Puerto Rico, Trinidad-Tobago, Ecuador, Peru, inc 4 narrow endemic of N+C Chile + Juan Fernandez Is (1), Juan Fernandez Is (1), C Chile (1), Uruguay (1); Arracacia 42 of 42 Mexico & Neo endemic spp of Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Costa Rica, Panama, Andes of Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, intro Cuba, Hispaniola, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, Trinidad-Tobago; Asciadium monospecific endemic Cuba; Austropeucedanum monospecific endemic NW Argentina; Berula 1 of 6 subcosmopolitan spp native Guatemala; Bupleurum 1 of 213 subcosmopolitan spp intro NE Argentina; Caucalis monospecific Mediterranean sp intro NE Argentina; Chaerophyllum ?? of 69 mostly N temperate spp native Guatemala, Costa Rica, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Argentina; Coaxana 1 of 2 Mexico & CAM endemic spp native Guatemala, Honduras; Conium 1 of 6 mostly Eurasian spp intro Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Cayman Is, Hispaniola, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, S+SE Brazil, Argentina, C+S Chile; Coriandrum 1 of 2 Middle East spp widely cultivated and naturalized Cuba, Hispaniola, Puerto RIco, Trinidad-Tobago, Juan Fernandez Is, Ecuador, Peru, Paraguay, S Brazil, Argentina; Cotopaxia 2 of 2 N SAM endemic spp of the high Andes of Ecuador, Colombia; Cyclospermum 3 of 3 former Mexico & Neo endemic spp native CAM (exc Belize), Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Galapagos, Peru, Bolivia, C+E+S Brazil, Paraguay, Chile, Argentina, Uruguay, intro Bermuda, Greater Antilles (exc Cayman Is), Leeward & Windward Is, Juan Fernandez Is, USA & pantropical, inc 1 narrow endemic of Uruguay; Daucus 3 of 43 cosmopolitan spp native Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, S+SE Brazil, Chile, Argentina, Uruguay, and intro Greater Antilles (exc Cayman Is), Leeward Is, Trinidad-Tobago, Juan Fernandez Is, Desventurados Is; Donnellsmithia 2 of 19 Mexico & N Neo endemic spp native Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, Colombia, Venezuela, most of genus is endemic to Mexico; Enantiophylla monospecific Mexico & CAM endemic sp native Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras; Foeniculum 1 of 3 Mediterranean spp intro cultivated and naturalized, Bermuda, Bahamas, Greater Antilles (exc Cayman Is), Leeward & Windward Is, Guatemala, El Salvador, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Chile, Paraguay, Argentina, S+SE Brazil, Uruguay; Helosciadium 1 of 4 Eurasian & African spp intro N+C Chile, NE Argentina; Heracleum  1 of 83 mostly Eurasian spp intro Haiti, S Argentina; Homalocarpus 6 of 6 narrow endemic spp of N+C Chile; Klotzschia 3 of 3 spp endemic C+E Brazil; Lilaeopsis 6 of 13 Americas & Australasia spp native Cuba, Dominican REpublic, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Paraguay, S+SE Brazil, Chile, Argentina, Uruguay, inc 1 narrow endemic of S Brazil; Myrrhidendron 5 of 5 Neo endemic spp native Guatemala, Honduras, Costa Rica, Panama, N Andes of Colombia & Ecuador, inc 4 narrow endemics of Colombia (1), Colombia + Ecuador (1), Costa RIca + Panama (1), Panama (1); Neonelsonia monospecific Neo endemic native S Mexico, Guatemala, Andes of SAM in Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru; Niphogeton 18 of 18 Neo endemic spp Costa Rica, Panama, N Andes of Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia; Notiosciadium monospecific narrow E SAM endemic NE Argentina, Uruguay; Oenanthe ?? of 33 mostly N temperate spp intro Uruguay, NE Argentina; Oligocladus monospecific Argentina endemic NW +S Argentina; Osmorhiza 4 of 12 mostly Americas spp native Guatemala, Colombia, Peru, Bolivia, Argentina, C+S Chile, 1 sp in genus endemic to temperate Asia; Ottoa monospecific N Neo endemic sp native Guatemala, Costa Rica, Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador; Paraselinum monospecific endemic of Peru, Bolivia; Pastinaca 1 of 15 Eurasian spp, P. sativa (parsnip), intro Greater Antilles, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Argentina, C+S Chile, Uruguay; Pedinopetalum monospecific endemic Dominican Republic; Perissocoeleum  4 of 4 spp endemic Colombia & Venezuela; Petroselinum monospecific Mediterranean sp intro Guatemala, El Salvador, Hispaniola, Puerto Rico, Ecuador, Peru, S Brazil, NE+S Argentina; Pimpinella ?? of 152 Old World spp intro Guatemala, Venezuela, N Argentina, S Brazil; Prionosciadium 1 of 21 Mexico & Guatemala endemic spp native Guatemala; Ptilimnium 1 of 5 USA & Caribbean endemic spp native Cuba,  Hispaniola, Puerto Rico; Rhodosciadium 1 of 15 Mexico & Guatemala endemic spp native Guatemala; Ridolfia monospecific Mediterranean sp intro Peru; Scandix 1  of 12 Mediterranean & C Asia spp intro C Chile, NE Argentina; Seseli 1 of 144 mostly Eurasian spp intro C Chile; Sium 1 of 10 N temperate spp intro N+C Chile; Spananthe 2 of 2 Mexico & Neo endemic spp native CAM (exc Costa Rica), Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, C +E Brazil, Haiti, Trinidad-Tobago, inc 1 narrow endemic of Peru; Spermolepis 1 of 11 Americas endemic spp endemic throughout Argentina; Tauschia 34 of 34 Americas endemic spp native from W USA, Mexico, Guatemala, Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador; Tiedemannia 2 of 2 S USA & Caribbean endemic spp native Bahamas, Cuba; Tordylium 1 of 20 Mediterranean spp intro NE Argentina;  Torilis ?? of 14 Old World spp intro Peru, Bolivia, C Chile, N Argentina, S Brazil, Uruguay; Visnaga 1 of 2 Mediterranean spp intro Colombia, Peru, C Chile, N Argentina, Uruguay, S Brazil. Azorelloideae: Asteriscium 9 of 9 SAM endemic spp of Chile, Argentina, inc 6 narrow endemics of NW Argentina (3), N Chile (1), C Chile (1), N+C Chile (1); Azorella 20-46 of 53 SAM + Australasia spp native Costa Rica, Colombia & Venezuela along W SAM Andes S through Ecuador, Perú Bolivia, Chile, Argentina S to Patagonia; Bowlesia 16 of 16 former Americas endemic spp native French Guiana, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Paraguay, Chile, Argentina, Uruguay, S+SE Brazil, inc 7 narrow endemics of Argentina (3), Chile (3), Peru (1), 1 sp now intro France, Pakistan; Diposis 3 of 3 S SAM endemic spp each narrow endemics of C Chile (1), S Argentina (1), Uruguay (1); Domeykoa 5 of 5 narrow endemic spp of Peru, N Chile; Eremocharis 9 of 9 narrow W SAM endemic spp of N Chile, Peru; Gymnophyton 6 of 6 spp endemic to the Andes of Chile, Bolivia, NW Argentina, inc 5 narrow endemics of N+C Chile; Pozoa  2 of 2 spp endemic NW+S Argentina, C+S Chile; Mackinlayoideae: Centella ?? of 50 mostly S Africa & pantropical spp native CAM (exc Panama), Bahamas, Turks-Caicos, Greater Antilles, Leeward & Windward Is, Trinidad-Tobago, Juan Fernandez Is, Galápagos Colombia, Venezuela, C+S+E Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay, C+S Chile, N Argentina, Uruguay; Micropleura 2 of 2 Mexico & Neo endemic spp native Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Costa Rica, Colombia, inc 1 narrow endemic Colombia; Saniculoideae: Eryngium ?? of 247 subcosmopolitan spp native CAM, Greater Antilles (exc Cayman Is), Leeward & Windward Is, Trinidad-Tobago, all of SAM; Sanicula ?? of 47 cosmopolitan spp native CAM (exc Belize), Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, C+S Chile, NW+S Argentina.

Patagonia Genera Include:

60% of Azorelloideae are in South America where they form an important component of the southern temperate zones: Apioideae: Ammi 1 of 3 Mediterranean & Azores spp intro S Chile, S Argentina; Anthriscus ?? of 13 mostly Eurasian spp intro Patagonia; Apium 2 of 12 temperate & subtropical Old World & SAM spp native throughout Patagonia & Falkland Is; Chaerophyllum ?? of 69 mostly N temperate spp native S Chile, S Argentina, Falkland Is; Conium 1 of 6 mostly Eurasian spp intro throughout Patagonia inc Falkland Is; Coriandrum 1 of 2 Middle East spp intro S Argentina; Cyclospermum 1 of 3 former Mexico & Neo endemic spp native throughout Patagonia; Daucus 1-2 of 43 cosmopolitan spp native throughout Patagonia; Foeniculum 1 of 3 Mediterranean spp intro throughout Patagonia; Helosciadium 1 of 4 Eurasian & African spp intro S Argentina;Heracleum  1 of 83 mostly Eurasian spp intro S Argentina; Homalocarpus 1-2 of 6 narrow endemic spp of N+C Chile found near N limit of Patagonia in SC Chile; Levisticum monospecific Middle Eastern sp intro intro S Chile; Lilaeopsis 1 of 13 Americas & Australasia spp native Patagonia & Falkland Is; Oligocladus monospecific Argentina endemic of NW+S Argentina; Osmorhiza 3 of 12 mostly Americas spp native throughout Patagonia; Pastinaca 1 of 15 Eurasian spp intro all Patagonia; Petroselinum monospecific Mediterranean sp (parsley) intro S Argentina;Spermolepis 1 of 11 Americas endemic spp endemic all of Argentina, inc Patagonia. Azorelloideae: Asteriscium 3-4of 9 SAM endemic spp found throughout Patagonia; Azorella ?? of 53 SAM + Australasia spp native throughout Patagonia & Falkland Is;Bolax 2 of 2 Patagonian endemic spp of S Chile, S Argentina, Falkland Is; Bowlesia 4 of 16 former Americas endemic spp native throughout Patagonia, now intro France, Pakistan; Diposis 3 of 3 S SAM endemic spp each narrow endemics of C Chile (1), S Argentina (1), Uruguay (1); Huanaca 2 of 2 Patagonia endemic spp of S Argentina, SC+S Chile; Pozoa  2 of 2 spp endemic S Argentina, C+S Chile. Mackinlayoideae: Centella 1 of 50 mostly S Africa & pantropical spp native C+S Chile. Saniculoideae: Eryngium ?? of 247 subcosmopolitan spp native throughout Patagonia;Sanicula ?? of 47 cosmopolitan spp native  throughout Patagonia.

Additional Information and References

  • Visit Lyrae’s Dictionary of Botanical Terms to learn the terminology of botanists. Note that if you hover over most of the words in the articles you can also get definitions from them there.
  • Willis, Lyrae (2022).  Plant Families of North America.  Not yet published. This is where all of the family descriptions come from. Below should be most of my references for this. Orchids, Poaceae, and Cyperaceae have additional references.
  • Canadensys: Acadia University, Université de Montréal Biodiversity Centre, University of Toronto Mississauga, University of British Columbia. http://data.canadensys.net/explorer (accessed 2020 – current)
  • Delta: Watson, L., and Dallwitz, M.J. 1992 onwards. The families of Flowering Plants: descriptions, illustrations, identification, and information retrieval. Version: 2nd May 2020. delta-intkey.com’. Accessed Spring through fall of 2020.
  • GBIF.org (2020), GBIF Home Page. Available from: https://www.gbif.org
  • Naturalista: CONABIO http://www.naturalista.mx Accessed 2020 – current.
  • Neotropikey: Milliken, W., Klitgård, B. & Baracat, A. eds (2009 onwards). Neotropikey – Interactive key and information resources for flowering plants of the Neotropics. www.kew.org/neotropikey.com (accessed 2020 – current).
  • Patagonia Wildflowers: Wildflower Identification Site. https://patagoniawildflowers.org/ Accessed throughout the fall of 2020.
  • POWO (2019). Plants of the World Online. Facilitated by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published on the Internet; http://www.plantsoftheworldonline.org/ Retrieved Winter 2020 – current.
  • The Plant List (2013). Version 1.1. Published on the Internet; http://www.theplantlist.org/ (accessed 2020 to 2021). No longer updated. Use WFO below.
  • USDA, NRCS. 2020. The PLANTS Database (http://plants.usda.gov, 2 June 2020). National Plant Data Team, Greensboro, NC 27401-4901 USA; accessed throughout fall of 2020.
  • Wikipedia: The free encyclopedia. (2004, July 22). FL: Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. Retrieved throughout 2019-current, from https://www.wikipedia.org
  • WFO (2022): World Flora Online. Published on the Internet; http://www.worldfloraonline.org. Accessed Spring 2022 – current

29 Mar, 2023