Apiaceae

Apiaceae - Carrot family
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Magnoliopsida Order: Apiales Family: Apiaceae
Genera
Anethum graveolens - dill Anthriscus cerefolium - chervil Apium graveolens - celery Carum carvi - caraway Centella asiatica - gotu kola Conium maculatum - poison hemlock Coriandrum sativum - coriander Cuminum cyminum - cumin Daucus carota - carrot Eryngium spp. - sea holly Foeniculum vulgare - fennel Pastinaca sativa - parsnip Petroselinum crispum - parsley etc.

The Apiaceae are a family of plants, including parsley, carrot, and other relatives. They were originally called the Umbelliferae, due to the inflorescence in the form of an "umbel". The family contains some highly toxic plants, such as hemlock, which was used to execute Socrates. It also contains some highly useful plants, such as carrots, parsley, caraway, and fennel. Many plants in this family, such as Queen Anne's lace have estrogenic properties, and have been used as folk medicine for birth control. Most notable for this use is the extinct giant fennel, silphium.