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The below mentioned article provides an overview on Family –Apiaceae. After reading this article you will learn about: 1. Explanation on Family –Apiaceae 2. Economic Importance of Family –Apiaceae .
Explanation on Family –Apiaceae (Umbelliferae):
There are about 200 genera and 2900 species in this family.
Distribution:
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The plants of this family are cosmopolitan in their distribution, however, they are not found in arctic regions. They are very commonly found in northern temperate regions. In the tropical countries they are either found in the hilly tracts or cultivated in the winter season. Majority of the plants are of economic value and many grow as weeds.
In our country the family is represented by several important species such as, Coriandrum sativum, Foeniculum vulgare, Cuminum cyminum, Daucus carota, Camm copticum, Hydrocotyle asiatica, etc.
Habit:
Majority of the plants are annual, biennial or perennial herbs. Sometimes shrubs and undershrub’s are also found. Bupleurum falcatum is an undershrub and Pseudocarum is a climbing plant.
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Root:
Usually the root is tap and branched.
Stem:
Usually, erect, rarely climbing, herbaceous. It becomes fistular at maturity on account of the shrinkage of the pith. The nodes and internodes are quite distinct. The stem is usually green and becomes pinkish as the plants mature. The stems are very often ribbed and angled.
Leaves:
The leaves are alternate, exstipulate amplexicaul and much dissected, rarely the leaves are opposite, e.g., Apiastrum. Usually the leaves are pinnately compound. However, in some cases the leaves are simple, e.g., Hydrocotyle, Bupleurum, etc.
The species Eryngium and Aciphylla possess the leaves with parallel venation and sheathing bases like many monocotyledonous plants. Oil glands are present in all the aerial parts of the plant.
Inflorescence:
The inflorescence is umbel. This may be simple or compound. In majority of cases compound umbel is found, e.g., Coriandrum, Foeniculum, etc., however, in some cases it is simple umbel, e.g., Hydrocotyle. The compound umbels are sometimes cymose in character and a terminal flower may occur, e.g., Eryngium.
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In compound umbels an involucre of bracts is present at the top of the main floral axis from where the umbels arise. At the base of each umbel involucel of the bracts is found.
Flower:
The flowers are usually hermaphrodite but sometimes unisexual flowers are also found. In several genera the outer flowers of the inflorescence are male only. In Astransia sp., majority of the flowers of the inflorescence are bisexual and some are only male flowers. In Echinophora sp., the monoecious plants bear the unisexual flowers.
The plants of Arctopus sp. are dioecious and bear unisexual flowers. In majority of the inflorescences the flowers are regular (actinomorphic) but sometimes the outer flowers of the umbles are zygomorphic and irregular, e.g., Coriandrum sativum. The flowers are usually pedicellate, bracteate, complete and epigynous.
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Calyx:
It consists of five sepals. These sepals are very minute in structure. The odd sepal being posterior. In many the calyx is absent, e.g., Foeniculum vulgare.
Corolla:
It consists of five petals, polypetalous, i.e., the petals are free. They are usually white or yellow in colour. The petals vary in size. In many cases two of the petals being larger than the other three. The tips of the petals are usually reflexed. Sometimes the petals are bifid, e.g., Coriandrum sativum. The aestivation is either valvate or imbricate.
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Androecium:
It consists of five stamens alternate to the petals. The stamens arise from an epigynous disc. The anthers are bilobed, introrse, basi or dorsifixed. The filaments are free. The anthers split by longitudinal slits.
Gynoecium:
It consists of two carpels (bicarpellary), syncarpous. The ovary is inferior, bilocular, each loculus contains a single pendulous, anatropous ovule. The placentation is axile. On the top of the ovary a nectar disc is found which surrounds the two capitate stigmas.
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Fruit:
The fruit is cremocarp. The ovary splits into two mericarps. The two mericarps remain temporarily attached to a very thin axial prolongation, between them, known as carpophore. Each mericarp is usually covered by five longitudinal ridges known as costae. Between costae there are furrows known as valleculae. Under these furrows there lie special oil ducts known as vittae.
Seed:
The seed is endospermic containing a minute embryo.
Pollination:
The pollination is usually entomophilous. The insects are attracted towards the beautiful condesed umbels having outer zygomorphic flowers. The nectar secreting disc situated at the top of the ovary is the main attraction of the insects. The flowers are protandrous and thus cross pollination is effected.
Description of some important plants in semi-technical language:
1. Trachyspermum ammi (Linn.) Sprague. Verna. Ajwain; Eng. Lovage, Ammi:
Habit:
Annual, aromatic, cultivated herb.
Root:
Tap and branched.
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Stem:
Erect, branched, glabrous, fistular, ribbed, nodes slightly swollen.
Leaf:
Cauline and ramal, compound 2, 3-4 pinnate, ultimate segments linear, alternate, petiolate, petiole sheathing at the base, exstipulate, aromatic.
Inflorescence:
Racemose, compound umbel, primary umbels with an involucre of bracts at the base and the secondary umbel with an involucel of bracteoles.
Flower:
Pedicellate, ebracteate, hermaphrodite, actinomorphic, complete, yellow, epigynous.
Calyx:
5 sepals, gamosepalous, calyx tube adnate to the ovary wall, calyx teeth 0.
Corolla:
5 petals, polypetalous, emarginate, yellow, valvate aestivation, superior, yellow.
Androecium:
5 stamens, polyandrous, alternating with petals, filaments long, anthers introrse, bicelled, basifixed.
Gynoecium:
2 carpels, bicarpellary, syncarpous, ovary inferior, bilocular, one ovule in each loculus, axile placentation, style extremely short, stigma bilobed, vittae present in ovary wall.
Fruit:
Cremocarp splitting into two mericarps.
Economic value:
The fruits are used as spice. They are also used medicinally as carminative, stimulant, tonic and in indigestion.
2. Centella asiatica (Linn.) Urb. (Syn. Hydrocotyle asiatica Linn.) Verna. Brahmi; Eng. Asiatic pennywort:
Habit:
Prostrate herbs, rooting at nodes.
Root:
Adventitious roots.
Economic value:
The weed is alterative, tonic, diuretic, antiphlogistic, blood purifier and local stimulant. It is a remedy for skin diseases, like chronic eczema, chronic ulcers, etc., enlargement of glands, chronic rheumatism, chronic nervous diseases, madness, cholera, amenorrhoea and piles. An ointmant made of leaf juice and lanoline is of great value in elephantiasis.
Stem:
Prostrate, herbaceous, weak, cylindrical, stolon, leaves and roots at nodes.
Leaves:
Simple, arising in groups from nodes, orbicular or reniform, crenate and often lobed; glabrous, shining, petiolate, long petioled; stipulate, stipule, adnate to petioles.
Inflorescence:
Racemose, simple umbels, 3-6 flowers in each group.
Flower:
Pedicellate, small pedicels, bracteate, bracts small, ovate, embracing the flowers, hermaphrodite, actinomorphic, regular, complete, epigynous.
Calyx:
5 sepals, minute, connate, valvate.
Corolla:
5 petals, polypetalous, valvate.
Androecium:
5 stamens, polyandrous, alternate to petals, filament short, anther dithecous, introrse.
Gynoecium:
2 carpels, syncarpous, ovary inferior, 2-celled, disk 2-lobed, vittae present in ovary wall, axile placentation, one ovule in each locule.
Fruit:
Cremocarp, laterally compressed.
3. Coriandrum sativum-, Verna. –Dhaniya:
Habit:
An annual cultivated herb.
Root:
Tap and branched.
Stem:
Erect, herbaceous, green, solid, branched, cylindrical, aromatic, ribbed, glabrous, nodes, slightly swollen.
Leaf:
Decompound, much branched when old, cauline, petiolate, base slightly sheathing, unicostate reticulate venation.
Inflorescence:
Compound umbel with involucre of bracts and involucel.
Flower:
Pedicellate, bracteate, hermaphrodite, complete, epigynous, the outer flowers of the inflorescence are zygomorphic, i.e., with large and unequal petals, whereas the central flowers are actinomorphic with equal and small petals.
Calyx:
5 sepals, gamosepalous, green, acute, valvate aestivation, superior, calyx tube adnate to the ovary wall.
Corolla:
5 petals, polypetalous, in peripheral flowers two posteior petals bilobed and smallest, one anterior deeply bilobed and largest two lateral large, bilobed, one lobe very small and the other large, zygomorphic, imbricate aestivation, purplish white; the petals of central flowers are small and equal in size, each petal consists of two equal lobes.
Androecium:
5 stamens polyandrous, alternating with petals, filaments long, anthers dorsifixed, introrse and yellow.
Gynoecium:
2 carpels, bicarpellary, syncarpous, ovary inferior, bilocular, one ovule in each loculus, axile placentation, epigynous disc present at the top of ovary prolonged in two short styles, vittae present in ovary wall.
Fruit:
Cremocarp.
4. Foeniculum vulgare; Verna.-Sonf:
Habit:
Annual aromatic cultivated herb.
Root:
Tap and branched.
Stem:
Erect, branched, glabrous, fistular, ribbed, nodes slightly swollen.
Leaf:
Compound 2, 3-4 pinnate, ultimate segments linear, cauline, alternate, petiolate, petiole sheathing at the base, exstipulate.
Inflorescence:
Racemose, compound umbel, primary umbels with an involucre of bracts at the base and the secondary umbel with an involucel of bracteoles.
Flower:
Pedicellate ebracteate, hermaphrodite, actinomorphic, complete, yellow, epigynous.
Calyx:
5 sepals, gamosepalous, calyx tube adnate to the ovary wall, calyx wall, calyx teeth 0.
Corolla:
5 petals, polypetalous, emarginate, yellow, valvate aestivation, superior, yellow.
Androecium:
5 stamens, polyandrous, alternating with petals filaments long, anthers introrse, bicelled, basifixed.
Gynoecium:
2 carpels, bicarpellary, syncarpous, ovary inferior, bilocular, one ovule in each loculus, axile placentation, style extremely short, stylopodium present, stigma bilobed, vittae present in ovary wall.
Fruit:
Cremocarp.
Economic Importance of Family –Apiaceae (Umbelliferae):
The family is very important from the economic point of view.
The fruits of some plants are used as condiments whereas the other plants are of medicinal value:
1. Apium graveolens var.dulce (Eng.-Garden celery; Verna.-Ajmud, Karas)-Native of Europe, now cultivated in the North-Western Himalayas and in the hills of Uttaranchal, H.P. and South India. Used as a vegetable. The roots and seeds are used medicinally.
2. Apium graveolens var. rapaceum; Syn. A. rapaceum (Eng.-Celeriac; Verna.-Ajmud, Salari)-The roots are eaten as vegetable. The fruits are used for extracting an oil, which is much valued, and the seeds as spice. Cultivated in the hills of Uttaranchal, H.P. and South India.
3. Coriandrum sativum (Eng.-Coriander; Verna.-Dhania)-An aromatic herb, native of the Mediterranean region, now cultivated chiefly in Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh for its fruits and leaves, which are used as condiment and spice. The fruits are also used as stimulant, carminative, stomachic and tonic.
4. Cuminum cyminum; (Verna.-Jira)-A herb, native of the Mediterranean region but commonly grown in the Punjab and Uttar Pradesh, for the aromatic fruits, which are used for flavouring purposes.
5. Carum carvi; (Eng.-Caraway; Verna.-Shiajira)-A herb, native of Europe and West Asia, now cultivated in Bihar, Orissa, the Punjab, Bengal and Andhra Pradesh. The fruits are used as condiment, and are also used medicinally as stomachic and carminative.
6. Bunium persicum; Syn. Carum bulbocastanum; (Verna.-Kala zira)-A perennial herb, found in Kashmir. The starchy tubers are eaten as vegetable and the seeds are used as spice.
7. Trachyspermum ammi; Syn. Carum copticum; (Verna.-Ajwain)-A herb, cultivated throughout India. The fruits are used as spice, and also used medicinally as carminative, stimulant, tonic and in indigestion.
8. Trachyspermum roxburghianum; Syn. Carum roxburghianum-, (Eng.-Ajmud; Verna.- Ajmuda, Radhuni); used as spice and condiment.
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9. Daucus carota var. sativa (Eng.-Carrot, Verna.-Gajar)- An annual or biennial herb grown chiefly in the Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. The roots are edible.
10. Centella asiatica; Syn. Hydrocotyle asiatica (Eng.-Asiatic pennywort; Verna.-Brahmi)- A creeping herb, used as an antidote against cholera and also to cure madness. The plants are used as remedy of certain forms of leprosy.
11. Ferula assafoetida; (Verna.-Hing)-A perennial herb, commonly grown in the Punjab and Kashmir. The gum-resin obtained from the roots, is used in perfumery and for flavouring food products. It is also used in medicines in the treatment of asthma, cough and indigestion.
12. Ferula galbaniflua-, (Eng.-Galbanum; Verna.-Gandhabiroza)-Found in North Western India. The oleogum resin, obtained from the stem, used in perfumery, and is also used in the treatment of chronic bronchites and ashthma.
13. Ferula jaeschkena-Grows in Kashmir. The roots and seeds produce an essential oil.
14. Ferula narthex; (Verna.-Hing)-Commonly found in Kashmir. It produces an oleo-gum resin, which is used for flavouring food products.
15. Anethum graveolens; Syn. Peucedanum graveolens; (Verna.-Soya)-Native of Eurasia, now cultivated on a small scale in Jammu and Kashmir. The fruits are used as spice and condiment and are also used as carminative.
16. Anethum sowa; (Verna.-Sowa)-Cultivated all over India. The leaves are used for flavouring and the fruits are used as carminative, stomachic and stimulant.
17. Pastinaca sativa; Syn. Peucedanum sativum; (Verna-Gujur)-A herb, native of Europe. The roots are eaten as vegetable.
18. Seseli indicum; (Verna-Banajowan)-A herb, commonly found in Uttar Pradesh, Bengal and Assam. The fruits are used as stimulant, stomachic, and are also used in expelling roundworms.
19. Foeniculum vulgare-, (Verna-Saunf)-An aromatic herb, native of the Mediterranean region, now cultivated mainly in the Punjab, Assam, Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra. The fruits are used as spice and condiment. Also used medicinally as carminative and stimulant. The residue, left after the distillation of an essential oil, makes a valuable fodder.
Systematic Relationships:
Engler has put three families, i.e., Araliaceae, Umbelliferae and Comaceae in the order Umbelliflorae. Bentham and Hooker also placed these three families in the Umbellales. Rendle has also adopted the same arrangement. Hallier recognized only two families, i.e., Comaceae and the Umbelliferae.
He merged the Araliaceae with Umbelliferae. Hutchinson (1948) has included the single family Umbelliferae in the order Umbellales. He has treated the Araliaceae as a separate order the Araliales, derived from the Comaceae.
According to Rickett (1945) there are two orders the Umbellales and the Cornales. The Umbellales consists of the Araliaceae and Umbelliferae and the Comales consists of the Comaceae and the Nyssaceae.
