Apiaceae - Carrot family

Herbs, rarely shrubs or small trees (Heteromorpha and Steganotaenia). Stipules 0. Leaves alternate, usually compound, occasionally simple.

Flowers arranged in simple or more usually compound umbels, rarely whorled or capitate. In compound umbels, the scales at the base of the primary branches (rays) are called bracts while those at the base of the branches of the secondary (or partial) umbels (referred to as pedicels) are called bracteoles.

Petals 5, usually white, but sometimes yellowish, greenish, pinkish or rarely blue. Stamens 5. Styles 2, usually divergent, usually with a well-developed stylopodium. Ovary inferior, 2-locular. Fruit dry, consisting of two indehiscent carpels separated by a commissure; carpels adnate or suspended from an axis (carpophore) usually separating when ripe, usually prominently 5- or 9-ribbed.

Worldwide: 446 genera and 3,540 species, cosmopolitan, but occurring particularly in northern temperate areas and on mountains in the tropics.

Malawi: 18 genera and 39 taxa.