Apiaceae

The Apiaceae family is usually easy to recognize because of the umbellate inflorescence. However, once you get into the family, you see many species not that easy to identify.  The family has some economic importance, being a source of celery, carrots, parsley and dill.  Some might remember Queen Anne's lace as a 'fun' plant when you grew up.  You could grab the inflorescence and place it into different dyes, and what how the white flowers would change color.

Web Links Daucus carota - queen anne's lace.

 

webdaucusclosetxt.jpg (34826 bytes) Queen Anne's lace is abundant in our area along roadsides.  It is a typical part of the summer flora.
webcoonium1txt.jpg (20853 bytes) In late May or June, Conium maculatum, poison hemlock (made famous through the execution of Socrates) is abundant along wet places.  The spotted stem, shown here, is characteristic.  The flowers look like Queen-Anne's lace.  Note the 'parsley-like' appearance of the leaves.
webdaucusbunchtxt.jpg (33694 bytes)
webthaspiumtxt.jpg (29511 bytes) The wild parsnip, Pastinaca sativa, is visible along roadside in late May into early June.
webtaenidiatxt.jpg (24494 bytes) The yellow pimpernel, Taenidia integerrima, , is a fairly common species of our dry and rocky areas of our woods in the spring.
carrottxt.jpg (94961 bytes) The commercial carrot, shown here being harvested in Bermuda, is a popular vegetable that takes some time and care to grow.