TAXONOMY 



377 



Umbellifera or Parsley Family. Herbs, rarely shrubs, often of 

 rapid growth, and with upright, fistular (hollow at internodes, 

 solid at nodes), often grooved and ridged stems. Leaves alternate, 

 compound and usually much divided, exstipulate, but with expanded 

 sheathing and flattened leaf base (Pericladium), that ensheathes 

 the stem. Inflorescence a simple or often compound umbel sur- 

 rounded by an involucre of bracts or of bracteoles. Flowers small, 

 pentamerous, with inferior ovary and superior floral parts. Sepals 

 minute, tooth-like, inserted above inferior ovary, or absorbed. 

 Petals small, usually yellow to white, rarely pink to purple, distinct, 

 each with inflexed tip. Stamens five, epigynous, inserted below a 

 nectariferous, epigynous disc, incurved in bud. Carpels two, fused 

 into bicarpellate pistil. Ovary two-celled, with one pendulous 

 ovule in each cell, ovarian wall traversed by oleoresin canals; 

 styles two, distinct above the nectar disc or stylopod. Fruit a dry, 

 splitting fruit or cremocarp, that splits lengthwise into two mericarps 

 which hang for a time by a forked carpophore. Seeds single in each 

 mericarp, albuminous. 



Official drug Part used 



Anisum Ripe fruit 



Botanical origin 



Pimpinella Anisum 



Habitat 



Asia Minor, Egypt 

 and Greece 



