Thanks Satish ji for this useful write up
-- Dr. Gurcharan Singh Retired Associate Professor SGTB Khalsa College, University of Delhi, Delhi-110007 Res: 932 Anand Kunj, Vikas Puri, New Delhi-110018. Phone: 011-25518297 Mob: 9810359089 http://people.du.ac.in/~singhg45/ On Mon, Aug 1, 2011 at 8:47 PM, Satish Phadke <[email protected]>wrote: > > > ---------- Forwarded message ---------- > From: Satish Phadke <[email protected]> > Date: Mon, Aug 1, 2011 at 8:46 PM > Subject: Fwd: FAMILY OF THE WEEK : APIACEAE (UMBELLIFERAE) > To: Flowers of India <[email protected]> > > > Earlier message posted by me on Indiantreepix in Feb 2008. > Regards. > Dr Satish Phadke > http://satishphadke.blogspot.com/2008_02_01_archive.html > > > ---------- Forwarded message ---------- > From: satish phadke <[email protected]> > Date: Thu, Feb 28, 2008 at 11:31 PM > Subject: FAMILY OF THE WEEK : APIACEAE (UMBELLIFERAE) > To: indiantreepix <[email protected]>, > [email protected] > > > APIACEAE (UMBELLIFERAE) > > The earlier name Umbelliferae derives from the inflorescence which is in > the form of a compound > "umbel". > Most abundant in north temperate zone.In India mostly in temperate and > alpine Himalayas but some are also cultivated in warmer parts. > The common examples are Coriander(coriandrum sativum). Carrot ( Daucus > carota) Fennel(Foeniculum vulgare) and Brahmi (Centella asiatica) > Vegetative characters: > Mostly Herbs biennial or perennial or sometimes annual. Species of Centella > are small prostrate herbs rooting at the nodes, but mostly they are with > stout erect stems with hollow internodes. Species of Angelica attain a > height of upto four meters. > The stems are usually furrowed. > The plants usually have aromatic smell due to presence of essential oil or > resin in all organs. > The leaves are alternate,rarely simple(Centella) but generally the are > pinnately compound or decompound. Stipules are generally absent.The > petioles is often swollen and sheathing at the base. > Flowers and Inflorescence: > As the name of the family suggests, the umbel inflorescence is the > characteristic of the family > Most commonly it is a compound umbel.The primary umbel is surrounded at its > base by an involucre of bracts. The flowers are > small,actinomorphic,hermaphrodite or sometimes unisexual or > polygamous,pentamerous and epigynous.The calyx is represented usually by > five inconspicuous teeth or a narrow circular ridge at the top of the ovary. > The corolla is of five distinct petals alternating with the sepals. The > petals are inflexed and fall off soon.The androecium is of five distinct > stamens alternating with the petals.They arise from epigynous disc. The > filaments are inflexed and the anthers are basi or > dorsifixed,dithecous,introrse and opening lengthwise. > Thje gynoecium is bicarpellary and syncarpous with witha an inferior > bilocular ovary.Epigynous disc is prolonged in to two styles. > Fruits and seeds:Fruit is a schizocarp.The seed has a hard oily endosperm > and a small embryo. > Pollination and dispersal:Aggregation of small flowers into dense > inflorescence amkes it conspicuous for insects and aids pollination.Open > nectar situation:so accessible to even short tongued insects.Smell of > ethereal oils and resins:marked influence on bees. > Mericarps of the seeds :marked by ridges and bristles:-dispersal by birds > and animals. > Examples: > Chiefly vegetables , condiments,volatile oils and ornamentals. > Daucus carota L. (Carrot,गाजर)fleshy tap roots used as vegetable. > Apium graveolens L. (Celery)again a vegetable > Pastinaca sativa(Parsnip)Thickened tap root as vegetable > The seeds of many species are used as spice and condiments for culinary > purposes and in confectionary > Coriandrum sativum (Coriander, कोथींबींर) > Foeniculum vulgare (Fennel, saunf बडीशेप) > Cuminum cyminum (Cumin,जीरा) > Ferula asafoetida .The dried latex obtained after making incisions in > living root stocks and roots is the source of Asafoetida (हींग) of commerce. > It is used as condiment for flavoring curries etc. > Centella asiatica Syn.Hydrocotyl asiatica( ब्राह्मी) Diuretic and > medicinal properties,insecticidal also. > Some species of Pimpinella ,Heracleum and Angelica are grown as > ornamentals. > > > > > -- > Dr. Satish Phadke > > > > -- > Dr Satish Phadke > > > > > -- > Dr Satish Phadke > >
