Introduction to the Apiaceae Family

The Apiaceae family is widespread globally but is particularly common in northern 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 fruits that split into 2 segments when mature (schizocarps), while the Araliaceae are usually shrubs or trees and usually produce berry-like drupes (soft fruits with a pit inside, like a cherry).  

Common Botanical Description

If you’re new to plant morphology, this guide is a great beginner’s description for learning to identify the Apiaceae family, with no need to know any scientific jargon. For researchers or those wanting to learn a more in-depth version, check out the Scientific Botanical Description below.

Leaves and Stems of the Apiaceae: Most plants are aromatic (malodorous to pleasant) annual, biennial, or perennial herbs. Their stems are often hollow between the nodes and are typically grooved or ribbed like celery and are often covered with hairs. The leaves are arranged alternately on the stem and often have sheaths or wrap around the stem. The leaves are often compound, made of many smaller leaflets.

Flowers of the Apiaceae: Flowers are usually rather small but are grouped into often large, flat-topped clusters called umbels for how they resemble the ribs of an umbrella. Each flower typically has five free white or yellow petals, or occasionally pink or purple. Flowers in the center of the cluster are often symmetrical, while those on the outer edge often have larger outer petals and smaller inner petals.

Reproductive Features of the Apiaceae: Flowers are bisexual, with both female (ovary, style, and stigma) and male (stamens) parts in the same flower. There are 5 free (unjoined) stamens. There is a single inferior ovary (located below where the petals attach), with two styles (pollen-collecting tubes) on top that often have thickened bases.

Fruits of the Apiaceae: Fruits are not fleshy but dry “schizocarps” that split into two parts, each containing a single seed when mature.

Uses and Cautions of Apiaceae 

Many members of the Apiaceae family 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, and others; however, many ornamentals have been modified with enlarged bracts or sepals and are not representative of the family.

Many Apiaceae are also used medicinally in folk, herbal, and Chinese medicines to treat a wide variety of ailments.

Still other Apiaceae members 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

Some of the Apiaceae Species Found in North America

Apioideae Subfamily

Anthriscus sylvestris—Cow Parsley

Herbaceous perennial, 60 – 170 cm tall with hollow, grooved stems that are green with purple splotches and tiny hairs. Leaves are compound and made of many leaflets (2-3 times pinnate) and appear fern-like. Flowers are white, small, in compound umbels like shown in the photo, with individual umbelets having hairy oval little bracts with red tips. It is native to Eurasia and Africa but widely introduced in the Americas.

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 with individual petals having notched tips that help in their identification. Fruits are small, roundish dry fruits that split apart at maturity (schizocarp). This species is endemic to the southern USA, in Texas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas. This one was in Texas.

Chaerophyllum procumbens – Spreading Chervil

Herbaceous annual, 15 – 50 cm tall, with slender, branching, shiny, and finely hairy stems. Mostly hairless leaves are divided into many leaflets and look very fern-like (bipinnately compound). Flowers are in small terminal compound umbels, each with 1 to 7 small white flowers that bloom before the umbel finishes expanding, as shown in the photo. This Apiaceae species is endemic to eastern North America.

Chaerophyllum tainturieri – Hairyfruit Chervil

Herbaceous annual to 80 cm tall with erect stems, opposite compound leaves (bipinnately like many Apiaceae) that are stiff-hairy. Flowers are in few-flowered umbels (not compound) in leaf axils, and it produces oblong fruits (schizocarps) also visible in the photo. It is native to the southeastern USA, with disjunct populations in Arizona and New Mexico.

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 alternately arranged and divided (pinnate) into 3 – 10 cm leaflets with jagged margins. The flowers are arranged in compound umbels with numerous small white flowers. This Apiaceae is the most poisonous native North American plant. It is endemic to the Pacific Northwest, mostly in BC, Canada, where this one was.

Cicuta maculata – Spotted Cowbane

Herbaceous perennial from rhizomes with a hollow, erect stem up to 1.8 m tall. It has compound leaves with several lance-shaped, pointy-tipped, toothed leaflets 2 – 10 cm long. Flowers are in compound umbels with many white or whitish flowers. The whole plant is poisonous and is native from northern Canada to southern Mexico.

Conium maculatum—Poison Hemlock

Herbaceous biennial 1.5 – 2.5 m tall with hairless, smooth, green, hollow stems usually streaked with red or purple. Leaves are finely divided and lacy-looking (2 – 4 times pinnately compound) and 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.

Cymopterus longiradius – Trans-Pecos False Mountainparsley

Herbaceous perennial from a taproot with a basal rosette of 3 times pinnately compound leaves. Flowers are in compound umbels in yellow. The fruit is a schizocarp. This Apiaceae member is narrow native endemic of the Sacramento and Guadalupe Mountains of New Mexico and Texas, USA.

Daucus carota—Wild Carrot

Herbaceous biennial, 30–120 cm tall with a roughly hairy, stiff, solid stem. Finely divided leaves (tripinnate) are 5 – 15 cm long and alternately arranged. Flowers are small and whitish in large, dense, flat-topped terminal umbels, often with a central pink or purple flower visible here. Dry fruits (schizocarps) develop as the umbels contract and become congested. It is native throughout the temperate Old World and has been widely introduced in the Americas.

Daucus pusillus—American Wild Carrot

Slender, herbaceous annual to 60 cm tall with hairy stems and finely dissected fern-like leaves with umbels of white flowers (lacking a central purple flower as in D. carota), with feathery bracts that extend beyond the flowers. The photo shows the contracted umbel in fruit. Native throughout the temperate Old World and widely introduced in the Americas.

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 shredded (incised) margins. White or green-white flowers in compound umbels are flat-topped and massive, up to 1 m across. This Eurasian native is widely introduced and invasive. It causes phototoxicity and contact dermatitis.

Heracleum maximum—Cow Parsnip

Herbaceous perennial plant to 3 m tall with hollow, densely hairy stems that have few to no purple splotches. Leaves are 3-lobed and may be deeply so but not shredded (incised) on the margins and are up to 40 cm across. White flowers in compound umbels up to 30 cm 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 grayi—Gray’s Lomatium

Herbaceous perennial with divided, fernlike (pinnately compound) dark-green leaves. Compound umbels each with hundreds of yellow flowers appear on leafless stalks. Hairless fruits are elliptic with lateral wings. The plant smells of parsley. It is endemic to the western United States, and this one was found on Antelope Island, Utah.

Lomatium foeniculaceum – Desert Biscuitroot

An herbaceous perennial herb up to 30 cm tall from a taproot. It’s stemless with hairy leaf stalks and peduncles that grow from the ground. Leaves are compound and fern-like (2–4x pinnate) and up to 30 cm long. Flowers are small, yellow, or purplish in compound umbels. The plant smells and tastes of parsley. It is native to western and central North America. This photo was taken at Gloss Mountain, OK, USA.

Lomatium multifidum—Fern-leaved Desert Parsley

Herbaceous perennial 30 – 140 cm tall that may be hairless, hairy, or sandpapery to the touch, with a thin dry sheath at the base. Leaves are compound and fernlike (3x pinnate), 15–35 cm wide on a 3–30 cm petiole. Small yellowish flowers appear in compound umbels with tiny bracts. The dry fruit (schizocarp) has thick wings. This Apiaceae is native to western North America from BC, Canada, south to Baja California, Mexico.

Oenanthe sarmentosa—Water Parsley

This perennial herb grows up to 1.5 m tall with compound leaves (pinnately divided but not as fern-like as others) up to 30 cm long on long stalks up to 35 cm long. Individual leaflets are toothed and lobed. Flowers are in somewhat dense compound umbels with white to red-tinged petals. It is native to western North America from Alaska south to California.

Osmorhiza berteroi—Mountain Sweet Cicely

Fragrant herbaceous perennial with branching stems to 1m tall. Leaves are divided into 3 leaflets with toothed or lobed margins and are up to 20 cm long with a long leaf stalk. Small whitish flowers appear in small terminal compound umbels with 4 – 10 flowers in each umbellet, with central flowers often having only anthers. The dry fruit (schizocarp) is elongated, ribbed, and bristly and up to 2.5 cm long. It is native to temperate regions of both North and South America.

Osmorhiza longistylus—Aniseroot

This lovely herbaceous perennial grows to about 80 cm tall with small compound umbels made of small white flowers. It is easy to identify when you crush the leaves, as they smell of anise. This Apiaceae member is native to both North and South America.

Pastinaca sativa – Wild Parsnip

Herbaceous biennial/perennial to 1.2 m tall that is easy to identify because it smells like parsnip. Leaves are alternately arranged and compound (pinnate), made of yellow-green, diamond-shaped, and coarsely toothed leaflets. Numerous yellow flowers appear in compound umbels. The dry fruit (schizocarp) is made of 2 flattened, slightly winged sections (mericarps). It may cause photosensitivity. This native of Eurasia is widely introduced and invasive.

Scandix pecten-veneris – Shepherd’s Needle

This small herbaceous annual only grows up to 50 cm tall with compound leaves that are finely divided and fern-like. It produces small white flowers in few-rayed umbels. What it is most known for is its distinctive needle-like fruits that give it its common name. This species is native to Eurasia and is introduced throughout the USA and parts of South America.

Sium suave—Water Parsnip

Herbaceous perennial to 3 m tall with light green, hairless stems up to 5 cm thick with few branches. Leaves appear in basal rosettes or in clusters in aquatic habitats; those on the stem are alternately arranged and compound with opposite pairs and a single terminal leaflet (odd-pinnate). The flowers are in small compound umbels with 10 – 20 small white flowers. This Eurasian native is introduced in North America.

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 lance-shaped leaflets up to 6 cm long. 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. This species is native to Europe and has been introduced in North America.

Vesper bulbosus – Bulbous Spring-Parsley

This herbaceous spring annual grows from a large swollen taproot and has compound (2x pinnate) leaves with pale gray-green leaflets. It produces purple to pink or whitish flowers in compact umbels follwed by distinctive fruits with conspicuous tan to purplish wings. This plant is endemic to the western United States.

Saniculoideae Subfamily

Eryngium yuccifolium—Rattlesnake Master

Herbaceous perennial to 1.8 m tall with 15 – 100 cm long, stiff, 1 – 3 cm wide, sharp-tipped, waxy blue-green leaves with spiny margins. Flowers are 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 them, with another cluster of spiny bracts beneath the round umbel, just visible in the photo. It is native to the tallgrass prairies of the central and eastern USA.

Sanicula canadensis—Canadian Blacksnakeroot

Herbaceous biennial or perennial 0.3 – 1.4 m tall with compound leaves made of 3 (trifoliate) egg-shaped or elliptic leaflets. Small pale green flowers in tiny bur-like compound umbels have sepals that are longer than their petals. These are followed by bur-like dry fruits (schizocarps) that split into two parts (mericarps). It is native to eastern North America, west to Wyoming, USA.

Scientific Botanical Description of the Apiaceae

Below is for citizen scientists, researchers, or anyone who wants to dive deeper into the world of botany to learn more about the Apiaceae family. Note that most botanical terms have a hover-over definition to help you better understand what they mean.

Habit & Leaf Form of the Apiaceae

Plants of the Apiaceae 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 (e.g., Angelica, celery). Sometimes they are switch-plants, occasionally with the principal photosynthesizing function transferred to stems (e.g., Platysace compressa) or phyllodinous (petiole or rachis performs leaf function) (e.g., Lilaeopsis). Leaves are usually well-developed but can be reduced in switch-plants. Plants are only occasionally 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 occasionally are conspicuously heterophyllous (e.g., Apium inundatum).

Leaves are small to large and arranged alternately or alternately and oppositely (usually just oppositely on upper leaves). Leaves are usually herbaceous but may occasionally be leathery or rarely fleshy. Attachment to the stem is either petiolate or sometimes perfoliate or peltate and always more or less sheathing. Sheaths have free margins and may or may not be pulvinate. Leaves may be gland-dotted and are usually malodorous to pleasant-smelling, but are almost always scented. Leaf arrangement may be simple or compound ternate, imparipinnate, bipinnate, multiply compound, or rarely palmate. When simple, the lamina is usually dissected pinnatifid, but it may also be palmatifid (as seen in Sanicula, Astrantia, and Eryngium), spinose (in Eryngium), or sometimes entire. They are pinnately, palmately, or parallel-veined. Leaves are usually without stipules (but sometimes with stipular flanges).

Flowers of the Apiaceae

Apiaceae plants are usually hermaphroditic 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), often compound. Sometimes they are in cymose heads or are rarely reduced to a single flower. Inflorescences may be pseudanthial, often 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.

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 usually present) or petaline (calyx teeth sometimes present) with 4–10 parts in two (or one) isomerous whorls. The petals are unequal in size, with those pointing outwards from the umbel larger than those pointing in. 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 fertile stamens) that are free of the perianth and each other. They are all equal or unequal and are found in 1 whorl. Their five stamens are isomerous with the perianth, opposite sepalous, and inflexed in bud. Anthers are dorsifixed or basifixed, introrse, tetrasporangiate, and dehisce via longitudinal slits.

Gynoecium of the Apiaceae

The gynoecium is 2-carpeled, 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 a ventral raphe, are non-arillate, are 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.

Taxonomy of Apiaceae

There are 3,820 species in 446 genera in the Apiaceae family of the Apiales order of the core eudicots. Then, the Apiaceae family is further divided into four main subfamilies, with a couple of unplaced genera as well.

1. Apioideae – The largest subfamily and a diverse group of annual to perennial herbs or subshrubs or rarely a small tree. Leaves are usually palmately divided but may be pinnate or simple and entire. Venation is pinnate, but some have parallel venation. 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, and 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 palmately lobed, and some have hairy or spiny teeth. Inflorescences are usually simple umbels or capitula, and bracts may be foliaceous or petaloid. Fruits may be barely to strongly compressed dorsally or laterally, may have 2-3 wings, or may be scaly or spiny. Cosmopolitan distribution.    

Note that Angelica (Apioideae member) looks like it is being split so that the North American species may now/soon be considered Archangelica, while many Eurasian species have been moved to other groups as the genus gets reduced by ~100 species, so I give the species numbers in a range, and the distribution data for the USA and Canada below still call it Angelica until I can get enough sources in agreement.

Genera of the Apiaceae:

Apioideae: Aciphylla (45), Acronema (35), Actinanthus (1), Actinolema (2), Adenosciadium (1), Aegokeras (3), Aegopodium (12), Aethusa (1), Afroligusticum (14), Afrosciadium (18 Not in APG), Agasyllis (1), Alepidea (31), Aletes (4), Ammi (3), Ammodaucus (1?), Ammoides (2), Ammoselinum (3), Andriana (3 Not in APG), Anethum (2), Angelica (2-106), Anginon (12), Angoseseli (1), Anisopoda (1), Anisosciadium (3), Anisotome (17), Annesorhiza (23), Anthriscus (14), Aphanopleura (3), Apiastrum (1), Apium (12), Apodicarpum (1), Arafoe (1), Arctopus (3), Arcuatopterus (5), Arracacia (42), Artedia (1), Asciadium (1), Astomaea (2), Astrantia (11 Not in APG), Astrodaucus (3), Astydamia (1?), Athamanta (12?), Aulacospermum (15?), Austropeucedanum (1?), Autumnalia (2?), Azilia (1?), Berula (7), Bifora (3), Billburttia (2), Bilacunaria (6), Bonannia (1), Bunium (34), Bupleurum (224), Cachrys (7), Calyptrosciadium (2), Cannaboides (2 not in APG), Capnophyllum (4), Carlesia (1), Caropodium (3 Not in APG), Caropsis (1), Carum (20), Caucalis (1), Cenolophium (1), Cephalopodum (2), Chaerophyllopsis (1), Chaerophyllum (69), Chaetosciadium (1), Chamaesciadium (1), Chamaesium (10), Chamarea (5), Changium (2), Choritaenia (1), Chuanminshen (1), Chymsydia (2), Cicuta (4), Cnidiocarpa (2), Cnidium (8), Coaxana (2), Conioselinum (21), Conium (6), Conopodium (8), Coriandrum (2), Cortia (3), Cortiella (5), Cotopaxia (2), Coulterophytum (4), Crithmum (1), Cryptotaenia (6), Cuminum (4), Cyathoselinum (1), Cyclorhiza (4), Cyclospermum (3), Cymbocarpum (5), Cymopterus (42), Cynosciadium (1), Dactylaea (2), Dahliaphyllum (1 Not in APG), Dasispermum (7), Daucosma (1), Daucus (45), Demavendia (1), Dethawia (1), Deverra (10? or syn. of Deverra), Dichoropetalum (36 or syn. of Dichosciadium), 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), Eleutherospermum (1), Elwendia (31 not in APG), Enantiophylla (1), Endressia (2), Eremodaucus (1), Ergocarpon (1), Erigenia (1), Eurytaenia (2), Exoacantha (1), Ezosciadium (1 not in APG), Falcaria (1),Fergania (1), Ferula (230), Ferulago (1), Ferulopsis (1), Foeniculum (5), Frommia (1), Froriepia (1), Fuernrohria (1), Galagania (6), Geocaryum (3),Gingidia (12), Glaucosciadium (2), Glehnia (2), Glia (3), Gongylosciadium (1), Gongylotaxis (1 not in APG), Grafia (1), Grammosciadium (4), Halosciastrum (1), Haloselinum (1 not in APG), Hansenia (9 not in APG), Haplosciadium (1), Harbouria (1), Harperella (1? or syn. Ptilimnium),  Harrysmithia (2), Haussknechtia (1), Hellenocarum (3), Helosciadium (6? or syn. Apium), Heptaptera (8), Heracleum (92), Heteromorpha (8), Hladnikia (1), Hohenackeria (2), Homalocarpus (6), Homalosciadium (1?), Horstrissea (1), Hyalolaena (9), Hymenidium (40 not in APG), Hymenolaena (3), Itasina (1), Johrenia (7), Kadenia (2), Kafirnigania (1), Kailashia (3 not in APG), Kalakia (1), Kandaharia (1), Karatavia (1), Karnataka (1), Kedarnatha (6), Kelussia (1 not in APG), Kenopleurum (1 not in APG), Keraymonia (4), Kitagawia (8), Klotzschia (3), Komarovia (1),  Komarovia (?), Korshinskia (5), Kozlovia (2), Krasnovia (1), Krubera (1), Kundmannia (1), Ladyginia (3), Lagoecia (1), Lalldhwojia (4), Laser (7), Laserpitium (8), Lecokia (1), Ledebouriella (1), Lefebvrea (10), Leiotulus (10 not in APG), Lereschia (1), Leutea (9), Levisticum (1), Lichtensteinia (7), Lignocarpa (2), Ligusticopsis (21), Ligusticum (35), Lilaeopsis (12), Limnosciadium (2), Lipskya (1), Lisaea (3), Lithosciadium (2 not in APG), Lomatium (106), Lomatocarpa (4), Lomatocarum (1 not in APG), Magadania (2), Magydaris (2), Marlothiella (1), Mastigosciadium (1), Mathiasella (1), Mediasia (1), Meeboldia (6), Melanosciadium (6), Meum (1), Modesciadium (1?), Mogoltavia (2?), Molopospermum (1?), Musineon (6), Mutellina (4?), Myrrhidendron (5), Myrrhis (1), Nanobubon (3?), Naufraga (1?), Neoconopodium (2), Neogaya (1?), Neogoezia (5), Neomuretia (2?), Neonelsonia (1), Neoparrya (1), Niphogeton (18), Nirarathamnos (1), Normantha (1), Nothosmyrnium (2), Notiosciadium (1), Notobubon (13?), Oedibasis (4), Oenanthe (35), Oligocladus (1), Oliveria (1), Opoidia (1 or syn. Peucedanum), Opopanax (4), Oreocome (10), Oreocomopsis (3?), Oreonana (3), Oreoschimperella (3), Oreoxis (2-4), Orlaya (3), Ormopterum (2), Ormosciadium (1), Osmorhiza (12), Ostericum (11 or syn. Angelica), Ottoa (1), Oxypolis (4), Pachypleurum (2), Palimbia (3), Paraligusticum (1), Parapimpinella (1), Paraselinum (1), Parasilaus (2), Pastinaca (16), Pastinacopsis (1), Paulita (3), Pedinopetalum (1), Perideridia (14), Perissocoeleum (4), Petroedmondia (1), Petroselinum (1), Peucedanum (72), Phellolophium (2), Phlojodicarpus (3), Phlyctidocarpa (1), Physospermopsis (8), Physospermum (2), Physotrichia (6), Pilopleura (2), Pimpinella (156), Pinda (2), Pleurospermopsis (2), Pleurospermum (9), Podistera (4), Polemannia (3), Polemanniopsis (2), Polytaenia (3), Polyzygus (1), Portenschlagiella (1), Postiella (1), Prangos (49), Prionosciadium (23), Psammogeton (19), Pseudocannaboides (1?), Pseudocarum (2), Pseudoridolfia (1?), Pseudoselinum (1), Pseudotrachydium (5), Pternopetalum (21), 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 (2), Sajanella (1), Saposhnikovia (1), Scaligeria (6), Scandia (2), Scandix (12), Scaraboides (1?), Schoenoselinum (1?), Schrenkia (13), Schtschurowskia (2), Schulzia (5), Sclerochorton (1), Sclerosciadium (1?), Sclerotiaria (1), Scrithacola (1), Selinopsis (2), Selinum (11), Semenovia (31), Seseli (141), Seselopsis (2), Shoshonea (1), Siculosciadium (1?), Silaum (1?), Siler (4), Sillaphyton (1?), Silphiodaucus (2), Sinocarum (18), Sinolimprichtia (1), Sison (3), Sium (10), Sivadasania (1?), Smyrniopsis (2), Smyrnium (6), Spananthe (2), Spermolepis (11), Sphaenolobium (3), Sphaerosciadium (1), Sphallerocarpus (1), Spiroceratium (1?), Spuriopimpinella (5), Stefanoffia (2), Steganotaenia (3), Stenocoelium (4), Stenosemis (2?), Stenotaenia (5?), Stewartiella (1), Stoibrax (3), Symphyoloma (1), Synclinostyles (2), Szovitsia (1), Taenidia (2), Taeniopetalum (3?), Tamamschjanella (2?), Tamamschjania (1), Tana (1?), Tauschia (34), Tetrataenium (21), Thamnosciadium (1), Thapsia (8), Thaspium (4), Thecocarpus (2), Tiedemannia (2), Tilingia (3), Todaroa (1), Tongoloa (18), Tordyliopsis (1), Tordylium (20), Torilis (15), Trachydium (11), Trachyspermum (15), Trepocarpus (1), Tricholaser (2), Trigonosciadium (7), Trinia (13), Trocdaris (1?), Trochiscanthes (1), Tschulaktavia (1?), Turgenia (2), Turgeniopsis (1?), Vanasushava (1), Vesper (6?), Vicatia (5), Villarrealia (1?), Vinogradovia (1?), Visnaga (2?), Vvedenskya (1), Xanthogalum (3? or syn. Angelica), Xatardia (1), Xyloselinum (3?), Yabea (1), Zeravschania (14), Zizia (3), Zosima (4).

Azorelloideae: Asteriscium (9), Azorella (58), Bolax (2), Bowlesia (16), Diposis (3), Domeykoa (5), Eremocharis (9), Gymnophyton (6), Microsciadium (1?), Oschatzia (2), Pozoa (2), Schizeilema (?), Stilbocarpa (?).

Mackinlayoideae: Actinotus (20), Apiopetalum (2), Brachyscias (1), Centella (55), Chlaenosciadium (1), Mackinlaya (5), Micropleura (2), Pentapeltis (2), Schoenolaena (1), Xanthosia (20).

Saniculoideae: Eryngium (254), Hacquetia (?), Petagnaea or Petagnia (1?), Sanicula (49).

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

Key Differences From Similar Families

Apiaceae are both similar to and closely related to the Araliaceae Family, 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 the Apiaceae vs. usually present in the Araliaceae; and the fruit is a dry schizocarp with two mericarps vs a berry-like drupe in the Araliaceae.

Distribution of Apiaceae

The Apiaceae family is a cosmopolitan family found all over the globe from frigid to tropical zones. Still, most members of the Apiaceae are in the north temperate zone.

Distribution of Apiaceae in the Americas

Canadian Apiaceae Genera Include:

Apioideae: Aegopodium 1 sp. intro to all of S Canada except AB and Labrador; Aethusa monospecific intro to ON, QC, NB, and NS; Anethum 1 sp. intro to S provinces except NS, NB, PE, and NL; Angelica 9 spp. native to all of Canada (& Greenland) except SK and MB; Anthriscus 3 spp. intro to BC, ON, QC, NB, NS, and NL (exc. Labrador); Astrantia 1 sp. intro to NL (exc. Labrador); Berula 1 sp. native to BC and ON; Bunium 1 sp. intro NL?; Bupleurum 2 spp. native to YT, AB, NT, BC, and intro to QC and ON; Carum 1 sp. intro to all of Canada except YT and Labrador; Chaerophyllum 3 spp. intro to BC, native in ON, and QC?; Cicuta 4 N temperate spp. native to all of Canada including the Arctic; Cnidium 1 sp. native to BC, YT, and NT; Conioselinum 2 N temperate spp. native to BC, ON, NL, NB, NS, and PE; Conium 1 sp. intro to BC, AB, SK, ON, QC, NB, and NS; Conopodium 1 sp. intro to NL Island; Coriandrum 1 sp. intro to ON, QC, and NS; Cryptotaenia 1 sp. a former NAM endemic native in MB, ON, and QC and extirpated in NB; Cymopterus 1 NAM endemic sp. native to AB, SK, and MB; Daucus 2 spp. including 1 native to BC and 1 intro to all of the S provinces; Erigenia monospecific E NAM endemic sp. native to ON; Foeniculum 1 sp. intro to BC, ON, and QC via cultivation; Glehnia 1 NW NAM endemic sp. native to BC; Heracleum 4 spp., inc. 1 native to all of Canada except NU and 3 spp. intro to BC, YT, ON, QC, NB, NS, PE, and NL; Levisticum monospecific intro to AB, ON, QC, and NS; Ligusticum 6 N temperate spp. native to BC, ON, QC, NL, NS, NB, PE, and NU (& Greenland); Lilaeopsis 2 spp. native in BC and NS; Lomatium 20 W+C NAM endemic spp. native to BC, AB, SK, and MB; Musineon 1 C NAM endemic sp. native to AB, SK, and MB; Myrrhis monospecific intro to BC, ON, NS, and NL Island; Oenanthe 1 sp. native to BC; Osmorhiza 6 spp. native to all of Canada; Oxypolis 2 spp. NAM endemic genus native to BC and ON; Pastinaca 1 sp. intro to all of Canada except NU; Perideridia 1 NAM endemic sp. native to BC, AB, and SK; Petroselinum monospecific intro to BC and ON; Peucedanum 1 sp. intro to ON and NS; Pimpinella 2 spp. intro to AB, ON, QC, NB, NS, NL (exc Labrador); Podistera 2 spp. native to YT and NT; Sium 1 sp. native to all of Canada including the Arctic; Taenidia 1 E NAM endemic sp. native to ON and QC; Thaspium 3 spp. E NAM endemic genera native to ON and NS; Torilis 3 spp. intro to BC, ON, and QC; Yabea monospecific W NAM endemic species native BC; Zizia 2 N NAM endemic spp. native to all of S Canada exc. PE and NL, and inc. YT.

Saniculoideae: Eryngium 4 subcosmopolitan spp. introduced to BC, AB, SK, ON, and QC; Sanicula 9 spp. native to all of S Canada except Labrador.  

USA Apiaceae Genera Include:

Apioideae: Aegopodium 1 sp. intro to 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, and ME; Aethusa monospecific sp. intro to ID, AR, MN, WI, IL, IN, OH, KY, MI, WV, PA, DE, NJ, NY, CT, RI, MA, and ME; Aletes 4 S NAM endemic spp. native to CO, NM, TX, and WY, including 2 narrow endemics of CO (1 of which was also in WY but has been extirpated); Ammi 2 spp. intro to OR, CA, AZ, TX, LA, MS, AL, GA, FL, SC, NC, MO, SD, and PA; Ammoselinum 2-3 spp., including 1 endemic, native to CA, AZ, NM, TX, LA, OK, KS, AR, MO, MS, TN, NC, and intro to AL; Anethum 1 sp. intro to most of the USA, including HI but excluding ID, NV, UT, WY, NM, TN, MS, AL, GA, SC, FL, VT, and NH; Angelica 22 spp. native to all of the USA, including AK, but excluding ND, SD, NE, KS, and TX; Anthriscus 3 spp. intro to 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, and ME; Apiastrum monospecific SW NAM endemic native to CA and AZ; Apium 4 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, and MA; Berula 1 sp. native to all of the W USA from MN S to LA and all states W except LA and including MI and NY; Bifora 3 spp., including 1 S USA endemic of TX, OK, and AR, and 2 spp. intro to AL, PA, MD, NJ, and RI; Bupleurum 4 spp. native AK and native and intro to most of USA except WA, NV, UT, ND, NE, OK, MN, IA, WI, RI, ME, MS, and SC; Carum 1 sp. intro to the N half of USA from OR E to NJ and all N except NE and including UT, CO, NM, LA, MO, TN, KY, WV, VA, MD, and NC; Caucalis monospecific intro to PA and HI; Chaerophyllum 4 spp. intro and native to most of the E USA from ND S to TX and all E except ND, SD, MN, CT, MA, VT, NH, and ME, and including AZ and NM; Cicuta 4 N temperate spp. native to all of the USA, Inc. AK; Cnidium 2 spp. including 1 native in AK and 1 intro to OR; Conioselinum 4 N temperate spp. native to most of the USA, including AK, but excluding ID, NV, ND, SD, KS, OK, TX, AR, MS, AL, SC, FL, TN, KY, WV, MD, and DE; Conium 1 sp. intro to all of the USA except MS and FL; Coriandrum 1 sp. intro to 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 former NAM endemic sp. native to all of the E USA from ND S to TX and every state E; Cryptotaenia 1 former NAM endemic sp. intro to Colombia and Peru; Cuminum 1 sp. intro to TX and MA; Cyclospermum 1 former Mexico & neoendemic sp. intro to all of the S USA from NM E to NC and inc CA, NV, OR, IL, VA, WV, MD, PA, NY, and HI; Cymopterus ~40 spp. native to all of the W half of USA from ND S to TX, including MN; Cynosciadium monospecific S USA endemic of TX, OK, LA, AR, MO, IL, TN, MS, and AL; Daucosma monospecific narrow endemic of NM and TX; Daucus 2 spp., including 1 native to the W, S, and SE USA and 1 intro to all of the USA, including AK and HI; Erigenia monospecific E NAM endemic sp. native to NE, OK, MO, AR, and WI S to MS and all E except FL, SC, DE, NJ, CT, RI, MA, VT, NH, and ME; Eurytaenia 2 S USA endemic spp. of NM, TX (1 endemic), and OK; Falcaria monospecific intro to WY, SD, NE, OK, LA, IA, MO, WI, IL, WV, VA, MD, PA, NY, and CT; Foeniculum 1 sp. intro to HI and most of the USA except ID, MT, WY, CO, ND, SD, OK, MN, AL, VT, and NH; Glehnia 1 NW NAM endemic sp. native to WA, OR, and CA; Harbouria monospecific C USA endemic of WY, CO, and NM; Harperella monospecific SE USA endemic of AL, AK, MS, GA, SC, NC, VA, MD, and OK; Helosciadium 1 sp. intro to CA, PA, and NJ; Heracleum 3 spp. inc. 1 native and 2 intro to most of the USA exc TX, OK, AR, LA, MS, AL, FL, and SC, and it is native in AK; Levisticum monospecific intro to CO, NM, MO, MN, MI, OH, PA, NJ, NY, CT, MA, VT, and ME; Ligusticum 11 N temperate spp. native to all W and E states, including AK but excluding ND, S to TX, and MN, IA, LA, FL, WI, IL, MI, and VT; Lilaeopsis 6 spp. native to WA, OR, CA, AZ, TX, LA, AR, MS, AL, FL, GA, SC, VA, NC, MD, NY, NJ, MA, NH, ME, and AK; Limnosciadium 2 spp. SE USA endemic genus of TX, OK, KS, LA, AR, MS, MO, and IA; Lomatium 89+ W+C NAM endemic spp. native to all of the W+C USA from MN S to LA and all states W exc. LA, with most being endemics of the USA; Musineon 6 C NAM endemic spp. native to ID, MT (1 narrow endemic), WY, CO, NV, UT, NM, ND, SD, and NE, including 5 endemic to the USA; Myrrhis monospecific introduced to OR, MI, and PA; Neoparrya monospecific narrow SW USA endemic of NM and CO; Oenanthe 4 spp. native to AK, WA, OR, and CA and intro to MO, OH, MD; Oreonana 3 narrow endemic spp. of CA; Oreoxis 2-4 (USDA says 4) spp. narrow endemic genus of UT, CO, and NM; Osmorhiza 8 spp. native to all of the USA including AK but exc. FL and LA, including 1 US endemic; Oxypolis 4 spp. NAM endemic genera native to all of the USA except WA, ID, WY, NV, ND, SD, NE, and KS, inc. 2 endemic to S USA; Pastinaca 1 sp. intro in all the USA exc. MS, AL, GA, and FL; Perideridia 14 NAM endemic spp. native to W USA from MT S to NM, plus SD, KS, OK, MO, AR, IL, IN, KY, TN, AL, and MS and extinct in OH, includes 12 endemic to the USA; Petroselinum monospecific intro to 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 spp. intro to TN, PA, NY, WV, and MA, and 1 native to HI; Pimpinella 3 spp. intro to WA, MT, MN, WI, TN, IN, MI, OH, VA, WV, MD, DE, PA, NJ, NY, CT, MA, VT, and ME; Podistera 4 spp. native to CA, UT, CO, NM, and AK; Polytaenia 3 spp. E USA endemic genus of ND, NE, KS, OK, TX, MN, IA, MO, AR, LA, MS, AL, TN, KY, WI, IL, IN, and MI; Ptilimnium 5 USA & Caribbean endemic spp. native in most of SE USA (4 endemics) from KS S to TX and E to NJ except IN, OH, and inc SD, NY, CT, RI, and MA; Scandix 1 sp. intro to WA, OR, CA, AZ, TX, SD, AL, GA, FL, SC, NC, TN, OH, MI, PA, MD, NJ, NY, RI, and MA; Selinum 1 sp. intro to MA, VT, and NY?; Seseli 1 sp. intro to MD; Shoshonea monospecific narrow endemic of WY and MT; Sium 2 spp. native to all of the USA exc. OK but inc. AK; Smyrnium 1 sp. intro in AL; Spermolepis 9 spp. native in most of S+E USA (6 endemics) from ND S to TX except the NE states but inc. NM, AZ, CA, and HI; Taenidia 2 spp. E NAM endemic genus native in all the E half of USA from ND S to TX and all E except ME, NH, CT, FL, ND, and NE, includes 1 endemic of NE USA; Tauschia 10 spp. native to WA, ID, OR, CA, and TX, about half are endemic; Thaspium 4 spp. E NAM endemic genera native to all of E USA (1 endemic) from ND S to TX and all E exc ND, SD, NE, CT, MA, VT, NH, ME; Tiedemannia 2 SE USA & Caribbean endemic spp. native to TX, LA, MS, AL, GA, FL, SC, NC, and MD, extirpated in DE; Tilingia 1 sp. native to AK; Tordylium 1 sp. intro to AZ; Torilis 5 spp. intro to most of the USA except MT S to NM, also except NV, ND, SD, MN, DE, CT, RI, VT, NH, ME, and inc. HI; Trachyspermum 1 sp. intro to MI; Trepocarpus monospecific SE USA endemic of TX, OK, LA, AR, MO, KY, TN, MS, AL, GA, FL, and SC; Turgenia 1 sp. intro to WA, OR, and PA; Vesper 6 SW NAM endemic spp. native to CA, NV, ID, UT, AZ, WY, CO, NM, SD, NE, KS, OK, and TX, including 5 SW USA endemics; Visnaga 1 sp. intro to CA, OR?, AL, TX?, FL?, NC?, and PA?; Yabea monospecific W NAM endemic sp. native to WA, ID, OR, CA, NV, UT, AZ, and NM; Zizia 3 N NAM endemic spp. native in all of the USA exc. CA, AZ, and NM, includes 1 endemic to SE USA.

Azorelloideae: Bowlesia 1 sp. native to OR, CA, NV, AZ, NM, TX, OK, LA, MS, AL, and FL. Mackinlayoideae: Centella 2 spp. native to TX, LA, AR, MS, AL, GA, FL, SC, NC, VA, MD, DE, and NJ and intro to WA, OH, and HI. Saniculoideae: Eryngium 34 subcosmopolitan spp. native and intro to all of the USA except UT, WY, MT, and ND; Sanicula 22 spp. native in all of the USA except AZ and UT, and inc. HI.

Mexico Apiaceae Genera Include:

Apioideae: Aletes 1 S NAM endemic sp. native to NW Mexico; Ammi 1 sp. intro to SW+C Mexico; Ammoselinum 1-2 spp. native to BCN, BCS, Son, Sin, Chi, Dgo, Zac, Coa, NL, Tam, SLP, Gto, Qro, Ags, and Hgo; Angelica 2 spp. native to most of Mexico except BCN, BCS, Son, Sin, Chp, Tab, Cam, Yuc, and QR; Apiastrum monospecific SW NAM sp. native to BC, BCS, Son, and Sin?; Apium 1 sp. intro to NW Mexico; Arracacia ~24 Mexico & neoendemic spp. native through all of Mexico, including several endemics; Berula 1 sp. native to Nay, Jal, Col, Mch, Gro, Oax, Chp, Pue, Cam, Yuc, and QR;Brachyscias 1 sp. intro to NE Argentina; Chaerophyllum 3 spp. native to N+SW+C Mexico and Ver, including one endemic; Cicuta 2 N temperate spp. native to Chi, Coa, NL, Tam, Dgo, Zac, Gto, Qro, Ags, SLP, and Hgo; Coaxana 2 Mexico + CAM endemic spp. native to Nay, Jal, Col, Mch, Gro, Oax, Chp, Cam, Tab, Yuc, and QR, including 1 endemic of Gro + Oax; Conioselinum  1 N temperate sp. native to BC, BCS, Son, Sin, Chi, Coa, NL, Tam, Dgo, Zac, Ags, Gto, Qro, Hgo, SLP, Nay, Jal, Col, Mch, Gro, and Oax; Coriandrum 1 sp. intro to NW+C Mexico; Coulterophytum 4 narrow Mexico endemic spp. if Mch (1), Jal (2), Dgo + Sin + Nay (1); Cuminum 1 sp. intro to Chi, Coa, NL, Tam, Dgo, and Zac; Cyclospermum 1 former Mexico & neoendemic sp. native most of Mexico except BC, BCS, Son, and Sin where it is intro; Cymopterus 2-5 NAM endemic spp. native to much of Mexico except Mex, Cd Mex, Mor, Tlx, Pue, Ver, Tab, Cam, Yuc, and QR; Dahliaphyllum monospecific endemic of Nay, Jal, Col, Mch, Gro, and Oax; Daucus 3 spp., including 2 native to all of Mexico, including the Mexican Pacific Is., and 1 sp. intro to NE+C Mexico; Donnellsmithia 19 Mexico + N neoendemic spp. native through all of Mexico, including 17 endemic to Mexico; Enantiophylla monospecific Mexico & CAM endemic native to most of Mexico except Ver, Tab, Cam, Yuc, and QR; Ligusticum 1-2 N temperate spp. native to BC, BCS, Son, Sin, Chi, Coa, NL, Tam, Dgo, Zac, Ags, SLP, Hgo, Gto, and Qro; Lilaeopsis 1 sp. native to most of Mexico except Chp, Tab, Cam, Yuc, and QR; Lomatium 1-2 W+C NAM endemic spp. native to BC, BCS, Son, and Sin; Mathiasella monospecific NE Mexico endemic of Chi, Coa, NL, Tam, Dgo, SLP, Zac, Gto, Ags, Qro, and Hgo; Myrrhidendron 1 N neoendemic sp. native to Chp, Tab, Cam, Yuc, and QR; Neogoezia 5 spp. Mexican endemic genus of N+SW+C Mexico, and Ver; Neonelsonia monospecific neoendemic native to Nay, Jal, Col, Mch, Gro, Oax, Chp, Tab, Cam, Yuc, and QR; Oenanthe 1 sp. native to Nay, Jal, Col, Mch, and Gro; Osmorhiza 3 spp. native to most of Mexico except the SE, inc. 1 narrow endemic of NL; Ottoa monospecific N neoendemic sp. native in Nay, Jal, Col, Mch, Gro, Chp, Ver, Tab, Cam, Yuc, and QR; Petroselinum monospecific intro to Mex, Cd Mex, Mor, and Pue; Prionosciadium 23 Mexico & Guatemalan endemic spp. native to all of Mexico, including 21+ endemic to Mexico; Rhodosciadium 15 Mexico & Guatemala endemic spp. native to all of Mexico (14 endemics); Spananthe 1 Mexico & neoendemic sp. native in all of Mexico; Spermolepis 4 spp. native to BC, BCS, Son, Sin, Chi, Coa, NL, Tam, Dgo, Zac, Ags, Hgo, SLP, and Ver; Tauschia ~22 spp. native, mostly endemics, in all of Mexico; Torilis 1-2 spp. intro to NE Mexico; Vesper 1 SW NAM endemic sp. native to BCN and Son; Villarrealia monospecific narrow endemic of Coa and NL; Visnaga 1 sp. intro to SW Mexico; Yabea monospecific W NAM endemic native to NW Mexico.

Azorelloideae: Bowlesia 2 spp. native to N, C, and SW Mexico. Mackinlayoideae: Centella 2 spp. mostly native to Chi, Coa, Dgo, NL, Tam, Zac, Gto, Qro, Ags, SLP, and Hgo, but 1 sp. is intro; Micropleura 1 Mexico & N neoendemic sp. native to all of Mexico. Saniculoideae: Eryngium ~55 spp. native throughout all of Mexico; Sanicula 4-5 spp. native to all of Mexico, including 2 edemics. 

Neotropical Apiaceae Genera Include:

Apioideae: Ammi 2 spp. intro to Bermuda, Bahamas, Cuba, Hispaniola, Guatemala, El Salvador, Colombia, Argentina, S Brazil, and Uruguay; Ammoselinum 1 narrow endemic sp. of NE Argentina + Uruguay; Anethum 1 sp. intro to Guatemala, Bahamas, Greater Antilles, Leeward & Windward Is, Ecuador, Peru, NE Argentina, and S+SE Brazil; Anthriscus 1-2 spp. intro to C Chile and NW Argentina; Apium 9 spp., including 8 native to Bolivia, Chile (1 endemic), Juan Fernandez Is. (2 endemic), Desventurados Is, Argentina, Paraguay, S+SE Brazil, and Uruguay (1 endemic) and 1 intro to Guatemala, Bermuda, Cuba, Hispaniola, Puerto Rico, Trinidad-Tobago, Ecuador, and Peru; Arracacia ~35 Mexico & neoendemic spp. of Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Costa Rica, Panama, Andes of Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia, and intro to Cuba, Hispaniola, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, and Trinidad-Tobago; Asciadium monospecific endemic of Cuba; Austropeucedanum monospecific endemic of NW Argentina; Berula 1sp. native to Guatemala; Bupleurum 1 sp. intro to NE Argentina; Caucalis monospecific intro to NE Argentina; Chaerophyllum 3 spp. native to Guatemala, Costa Rica, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, and Argentina, including 2 endemics of the Andes; Coaxana 1 Mexico & CAM endemic sp. native to Guatemala and Honduras; Conium 1 sp. intro to Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Cayman Is, Hispaniola, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, S+SE Brazil, Argentina, and C+S Chile; Coriandrum 1 sp. cultivated and naturalized in Cuba, Hispaniola, Puerto RIco, Trinidad-Tobago, Juan Fernandez Is., Ecuador, Peru, Paraguay, S Brazil, and Argentina; Cotopaxia 2 N SAM endemic spp. of the high Andes of Ecuador and Colombia; Cyclospermum 3 spp. native to CAM (except Belize), Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Galapagos, Peru, Bolivia, C+E+S Brazil, Paraguay, Chile, Argentina, and Uruguay, and intro to Bermuda, Greater Antilles (exc. Cayman Is.), Leeward & Windward Is., and Juan Fernandez Is., including 2 endemics of C-S SAM; Daucus 3 spp. including 2 native to Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, S+SE Brazil, Chile, Argentina, and Uruguay and 1 sp. intro to Greater Antilles (exc. Cayman Is.), Leeward Is, Trinidad-Tobago, Juan Fernandez Is, Desventurados Is., Peru, Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, and S Brazil; Donnellsmithia 2 Mexico & N neoendemic spp. native to Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, Colombia, and Venezuela; Enantiophylla monospecific Mexico & CAM endemic native to Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras; Foeniculum 1 sp. cultivated and naturalized in Bermuda, the Bahamas, Greater Antilles (exc. Cayman Is.), Leeward & Windward Is, Guatemala, El Salvador, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Chile, Paraguay, Argentina, S+SE Brazil, and Uruguay; Helosciadium 1 sp. intro to N+C Chile and NE Argentina; Heracleum 1 sp. intro to Haiti; Homalocarpus 6 narrow endemics of N+C Chile; Klotzschia 3 spp. endemic genus of Brazil; Lilaeopsis 6 spp. native to Cuba, Dominican Republic, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Paraguay, S Brazil (1 narrow endemic), Chile, Argentina, and Uruguay; Myrrhidendron 5 N neoendemic spp. native to Guatemala, Honduras, Costa Rica, Panama (1 narrow endemic), and N Andes of Colombia (1 narrow endemic) and Ecuador, including 4 endemic to neotropical zone; Neonelsonia monospecific neoendemic native to Guatemala and Andes of SAM in Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, and Peru; Niphogeton 18 neoendemic spp. of Costa Rica, Panama, and N Andes of Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia; Notiosciadium monospecific narrow E SAM endemic of NE Argentina and Uruguay; Oenanthe 1 sp. intro to Uruguay and NE Argentina; Oligocladus monospecific Argentina endemic found throughout Argentina; Osmorhiza 4 spp. native to Guatemala, Colombia, Peru, Bolivia, Argentina, and C+S Chile; Ottoa monospecific N neoendemic native to Guatemala, Costa Rica, Colombia, Venezuela, and Ecuador; Paraselinum monospecific endemic of Peru and Bolivia; Pastinaca 1 sp. intro to Greater Antilles, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Argentina, C+S Chile, and Uruguay; Pedinopetalum monospecific endemic of the Dominican Republic; Perissocoeleum  4 spp. narrow endemics of Colombia & Venezuela; Petroselinum monospecific intro to Guatemala, El Salvador, Hispaniola, Puerto Rico, Ecuador, Peru, S Brazil, and Argentina; Pimpinella 2? spp. intro to Guatemala, Venezuela, N Argentina, and S Brazil; Prionosciadium 1 Mexico & Guatemala endemic sp. native in Guatemala; Ptilimnium 1 USA & Caribbean endemic sp. native to Cuba, Hispaniola, and Puerto Rico; Rhodosciadium 1 Mexico & Guatemala endemic sp. native to Guatemala; Ridolfia monospecific intro to Peru; Scandix 1 sp. intro to C Chile and NE Argentina; Seseli 1 sp. intro to C Chile; Sium 1 sp. intro to N+C Chile; Spananthe 2 spp. Mexico & neoendemic genera native CAM, Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru (1 endemic), Bolivia, C +E Brazil, Haiti, and Trinidad-Tobago; Spermolepis 1 sp. endemic throughout Argentina; Tauschia 7-10 spp. native to Guatemala (2 endemics?), Colombia, Venezuela, and Ecuador; Tiedemannia 2 S USA & Caribbean endemic spp. native to the Bahamas and Cuba; Tordylium 1 sp. intro to NE Argentina; Torilis ~2 spp. intro to Peru, Bolivia, C Chile, N Argentina, S Brazil, and Uruguay; Visnaga 1 sp. intro to Colombia, Peru, C Chile, N Argentina, Uruguay, and S Brazil.

Azorelloideae of the Neotropics: Asteriscium 9 S SAM endemic spp. of Chile (3 endemics) and Argentina (3 endemics in NW); Azorella ~40 spp. native to Costa Rica, Venezuela, Colombia, and through the Andes S through Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile, and Argentina; Bowlesia 16 former neoendemic spp. native to French Guiana, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Paraguay, Chile (3), Argentina (3 Argentina), Uruguay, and S+SE Brazil; Diposis 3 narrow endemics of C Chile (1), S Argentina (1), and Uruguay (1); Domeykoa 5 narrow endemics of Peru and N Chile; Eremocharis 9 narrow W SAM endemics of N Chile and Peru; Gymnophyton 6 Andes endemic spp. of N+C Chile (6 endemic), Bolivia, and NW Argentina; Pozoa  2 S SAM endemics of NW+S Argentina and C+S Chile. Mackinlayoideae: Centella 1-2 spp. native to CAM (exc. Panama), Bahamas, Turks-Caicos, Greater Antilles, Leeward & Windward Is., Trinidad-Tobago, Juan Fernandez Is., Galápagos, Colombia, Venezuela, Brazil (exc. N), Bolivia, Paraguay, C+S Chile, N Argentina, and Uruguay; Micropleura 2 spp. Mexico & neoendemic genus native to Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Costa Rica, and Colombia (1 endemic). Saniculoideae: Eryngium 100+ subcosmopolitan spp. native throughout CAM, SAM, the Greater Antilles (exc. Cayman Is.), Leeward & Windward Is., and Trinidad-Tobago; Sanicula ~3 spp. native to CAM (exc. Belize), Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, C+S Chile, and NW+S Argentina.

Patagonian Argentina and Southern Chile Apiaceae Genera Include:

Apioideae: Ammi 1 sp. intro to S Chile and S Argentina; Anthriscus 1? sp. intro throughout Patagonia; Apium 2 spp. native throughout Patagonia & the Falkland Is.; Chaerophyllum 1-2 spp. native to S Chile, S Argentina, and Falkland Is.; Conium 1 sp. intro throughout Patagonia and Falkland Is.; Coriandrum 1 sp. intro to S Argentina; Cyclospermum 1 sp. native throughout Patagonia; Daucus 2 spp., including 1 native and 1 intro throughout Patagonia; Foeniculum 1 sp. intro throughout Patagonia; Helosciadium 1 sp. intro to S Argentina; Heracleum  1 sp. intro to S Argentina; Homalocarpus 1 narrow endemic sp. of N+C Chile found near N limit of Patagonia in SC Chile; Levisticum monospecific intro to S Chile; Lilaeopsis 1 sp. native throughout Patagonia and the Falkland Is.; Oligocladus monospecific Argentina endemic found in S Argentina; Osmorhiza 3 spp. native throughout the Patagonia region; Pastinaca 1 sp. intro to all of Patagonia; Petroselinum monospecific intro to S Argentina; Spermolepis 1 Argentina endemic in S Argentina.

Azorelloideae: Asteriscium 3-4 S SAM endemic spp. native throughout Patagonia; Azorella 15-20 spp. native throughout Patagonia and the Falkland Is., including several endemics of the Andes and Patagonia steppe; Bolax 2 Patagonian endemic spp. of S Chile, S Argentina, and the Falkland Is.; Bowlesia 4 endemic spp. native throughout Patagonia, now introduced in France and Pakistan; Diposis 2 SAM endemic spp. including 1 narrow endemic of S Argentina; Pozoa 1-2 S SAM endemics of the Patagonia region. Mackinlayoideae: Centella 1 sp. native to C+S Chile. Saniculoideae: Eryngium ~17 spp. native throughout Patagonia; Sanicula 2 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 their definitions there.
• Willis, Lyrae – Unpublished. Plant Families of North America. This is where all of the family descriptions come from. Below should be most of my references for this, as well as from personal observations of Apiaceae in North America.
• 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.
• Flora of North America. (1993+). https://floranorthamerica.org/Main_Page.
• 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.
• USDA, NRCS. (2020). The PLANTS Database (http://plants.usda.gov, 2 June 2020). National Plant Data Team, Greensboro, NC, USA; accessed throughout fall of 2020.
• WFO (2026): World Flora Online. Published on the Internet: http://www.worldfloraonline.org. Accessed Spring 2022 – current

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I am currently seeking funding to expand my website and SEO capabilities as I keep adding new families, and I am also looking to invest in a new macro lens, as I will soon be adding floral dissections to the families as they become available to me. You can donate to help support native plant education using the GoFundMe link, also at the bottom of the page.

Copyright Information

The information and the photos on this site are free to use for educational purposes, with proper attribution. For other uses, please contact me first.

You can cite this site as follows: Willis, Lyrae (2020+). Lyrae’s Nature Blog – Plant Families of North America. https://lyraenatureblog.com/. Accessed [Enter Date].