Apiaceae – Carrot Family

There are about 3,000 species of plants in this family. Most of them are herbs. They have hollow stems and thick clusters of tiny flowers with five petals. Most plants in this family grow in the Northern Hemisphere in temperate regions. Leaves usually alternate and are feathery. Some plants in this family, like hemlock, are toxic. Other plants, like carrots, parsnip, celery, and parsley, are very useful.

Plants in the Apiaceae family found in the wild in New Hampshire include: goutweed, water hemlock, poison hemlock, Queen Anne’s lace, cowparsnip, American marshpennywort, and wild parsnip.

Cultivated plants include parsley, coriander, fennel, dill, caraway, cumin, anise, celery, parsnip, and carrots.