The Apiaceae reference article from the English Wikipedia on 24-Jul-2004
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Apiaceae

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Carrot family

Flower of Wild Carrot (Daucus carota)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Magnoliophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Apiales
Family : Apiaceae
Genera
See text
Ref: Hortiplex 2003-11-14 


The Apiaceae, the carrot or parsley family,  are a family of usually aromatic plants with hollow stems, including parsley, carrot, and other relatives. 

They were originally called the Umbelliferae, due to the inflorescence in the form of a compound "umbel".  

This is a large family with about 300 genera and more than 3,000 species.

The small flowers are radially symmetrical with 5 small sepals, 5 petals and 5 stamens.

The family contains some highly toxic plants, such as hemlock, which was used to execute Socrates.  It also contains some highly useful plants, such as carrots, parsley, caraway, and fennel.  Many plants in this family, such as Wild carrot have estrogenic properties, and have been used as folk medicine for birth control.  Most notable for this use is the extinct giant fennel, silphium.

Notable species include:



Species


Celery (<em>Apium graveolens</em>)