Apiaceae: Carrot Family – Grassland and disturbed places
Most members of the Apiaceae (carrot) family are characterized by having their flowers arranged in umbels, i.e. with segments radiating from a single point. Formerly, the family was called Umbelliferae. Many have compound umbels, where an umbel contains multiple inflorescences, each of which is an umbel. Umbels may be rounded, flat-topped or concentrated in head-like structures. Most members of the family have white flowers. Notable exceptions are Fennel, Lomatiums, most Sancicles and Tauschia, which have yellow flowers. This page includes some weeds commonly seen along trails, a few growing up to 3 meters tall.
Poison Hemlock – Conium maculatum
Blooms:
Apr–July
Plant Height:
0.5–3 m
Flower Size:
Large cluster
Origin:
Europe
Invasive?
Yes – moderate
Habitat:
Moist & disturbed places
Notes:
This toxic plant has leaves which are generally 2-pinnate and highly cut. Mature plants usually have red speckles on their stems (known as “Socrates’ blood”) — a distinctive feature which allows this plant to be distinguished from some of the other members of its family. This is the plant that was used by the ancient Greeks to kill Socrates. Eating even a few of the leaves can be fatal! If in doubt, do not eat it.
Queen Anne’s Lace / Wild Carrot – Daucus carota
Blooms:
May–Sept
Plant Height:
15–120 cm
Flower Size:
Large cluster
Origin:
Europe
Habitat:
Roadsides, disturbed places
Notes:
The general appearance is not unlike Poison Hemlock (Conium maculatum, see above). However, the pure white inflorescence is frequently hemispheric and/or has a small dark red, almost black, dot in the center. According to legend, this represents the blood drawn when the English Queen Anne (1703–20) pricked her finger while making lace. The stems lack the red blotches characteristic of Poison Hemlock. The flowers are subtended by conspicuous bracts divided into long, linear to thread-like segments.
Rattlesnake Weed – Daucus pusillus
Blooms:
Apr–June
Plant Height:
3–90 cm
Flower Size:
Medium cluster
Origin:
Native
Habitat:
Dry slopes, many communities
Notes:
A close relative of Queen Anne’s Lace (Daucus carota, see above) despite a very different appearance. This is a small plant, with a dense inflorescence of white to pink-tinged flowers, immediately subtended by conspicuous, leaf-like bracts. The stems are bristly. Photos #1-2 by CJH.
Coast Eryngo / Coastal Button-celery – Eryngium armatum
Blooms:
May–Aug
Stem length:
10–50 cm
Flower Size:
Small
Origin:
Native
Habitat:
Coastal flats
Notes:
A low-growing, somewhat thistle-like, plant with thick green to yellow-green leaves, each long and straight. There are stout stems bearing spiky flower heads. Each is surrounded by 1 or 2 layers of sharp bracts. The tiny white to greenish flowers are tucked between the layers of bracts.
Sweet Fennel – Foeniculum vulgare
Blooms:
May–Sept
Plant Height:
0.9–2.1 m
Flower Size:
Large cluster
Origin:
Southern Europe
Invasive?
Yes – High
Habitat:
Roadsides & waste places
Notes:
Immediately recognizable by its compound umbels of bright yellow flowers, and by its delicate, finely pinnate, thread-like leaves. Both leaves and seeds have an unmistakable anise taste. Photos #2-4 by CJH.
Cow Parsnip / Giant Hogweed – Heracleum maximum
Blooms:
Apr–July
Plant Height:
1–3 m
Flower Size:
Large cluster
Origin:
Native
Habitat:
Moist, open or wooded places
Notes:
This big plant is notable for its very large, coarsely lobed leaves (as much as 50 cm wide), and the wide sheaths at the base of each petiole. The inflorescence is an umbel of dull, white flowers, each with 5 notched petals. Photos #1 – 3 by CJH.
Gairdner’s Yampah – Perideridia gairdneri subsp. gairdneri
Blooms:
June–Aug
Plant Height:
30–140 cm
Flower Size:
Medium cluster
Origin:
Native
Rare or Endangered?
Yes – 4.2
Habitat:
Coastal flats, grassland & pine forest
Notes:
Slender, erect stem. Leaves near the base of the plant have blades up to 35 cm long, divided into many narrow, subdivided lobes. Upper leaves are smaller and less divided. The leaves have usually withered by flowering time. Late-flowering plants have been seen into October. The inflorescence is a compound umbel with 7–14 unequal rays, that have 0–2 bracts at the base. Each of the secondary umbels has 15–40 flowers and 8–13 bractlets. The ovary is inferior with a persistent conical projection subtending two 1–2 mm, slender styles. The fruit is roundish, as broad as long.
Kellogg’s Yampah – Perideridia kelloggii
Blooms:
July–Aug
Plant Height:
70–150 cm
Flower Size:
Large cluster
Origin:
Native
Habitat:
Moist, open or wooded places
Notes:
The inflorescence is umbel-shaped, and there are 8–10 brown bracts and up to 10 bractlets. This is a stouter plant than Gairdner’s Yampah (Perideridia gairdneri, see above), with noticeable fibrous roots and fully sheathed stems, down to the divided basal leaves. Also helping differentiate it from Gairdner’s Yampah are the bracts, and elliptic/oblong fruit with short stubby stigmas.
Oregon Yampah – Perideridia oregana
Blooms:
July–Aug
Plant Height:
10–90 cm
Flower Size:
Medium cluster
Origin:
Native
Habitat:
Moist meadows & rocky slopes, Southeast Monterey
Notes:
Smaller than Gairdner’s or Kellogg’s Yampah (Perideridia gairdneri or kelloggii, see above). Also, it is distinguished by its slimmer, oblong fruits, the number of its bracts (generally 6–10 but sometimes as few as 0–2) and fewer bractlets (4–8). Styles are narrow and reflexed.
