The Identication of Medicinal Plants

A Handbook of the Morphology of Botanicals in Commerce

by Wendy Applequist, Ph.D.

Foreword by Mark Blumenthal & Steven Foster
Illustrations by Barbara Alongi

The Identication of Medicinal Plants

A Handbook of the Morphology of Botanicals in Commerce
By Wendy Applequist, Ph.D.
Illustrations by Barbara Alongi

With a Foreword by
Mark Blumenthal
Founder and Executive Director
American Botanical Council
and
Steven Foster
President, Steven Foster Group
Botanist and Author

A joint project of

Missouri Botanical Garden

St. Louis, Missouri

American Botanical Council

Austin, Texas

2006

About the Author

Wendy Applequist earned her Ph.D. in plant systematics from Iowa State University and is an assistant curator in
the William L. Brown Center for Plant Genetic Resources at the Missouri Botanical Garden. She conducts research on
the botany of medicinal plants and plants native to Madagascar. She has previously published articles in several journals,
including Systematic Botany, Taxon, Plant Systematics and Evolution, Evolution and Development, Pharmazie, Flora, and
Adansonia. This is her rst book.

About the Artist

Barbara Alongi is a scientic illustrator based at the Missouri Botanical Garden. Her illustrations accompany many
descriptions of new species of plants as well as monographic treatments. She is an illustrator for the Flora of North
America project.

About the American Botanical Council

The American Botanical Council (ABC) is the leading independent, nonprot education and research organization
using science-based and traditional information to promote the responsible use of herbal medicine. The membersupported organization serves all populations interested in herbal medicine: the general public, healthcare professionals,
researchers, educators, industry, media and government.
ABCs vision is that the public makes educated, responsible choices about herbal medicine as an accepted part of
healthcare. Founded in 1988, ABC supports this vision through its mission to provide science-based and traditional
information to promote the responsible use of herbal medicine. ABC achieves its mission through:
Publication of its peer-reviewed journal
HerbalGram
HerbClip literature review service
HerbalEGram electronic newsletter
Publication of books and literature
Information on its website, www.herbalgram.org

Continuing education materials for healthcare

prrofessionals
Internships for healthcare professionals
Safety guidelines for herbal products
Seminars, presentations and workshops
Serving as a source of authoritative information to
global print and electronic media

For information:
American Botanical Council
P.O. Box 144345
Austin, TX 78714-4345
Phone: 512-926-4900
Fax: 512-926-2345
Toll free in the U.S.: 800-373-7105
Email: [email protected].
Website: www.HerbalGram.org

About the Missouri Botanical Garden

The oldest continuously operating botanical garden west of the Mississippi, the Missouri Botanical Garden of St. Louis
is an award-winning horticultural and educational institution whose many public attractions run the gamut from an oldfashioned herb garden to a brand-new Childrens Garden. Behind the scenes, it is also one of the worlds most active centers
for botanical systematic and oristic research, with about 150 full-time research sta who conduct eld studies in dozens
of countries every year. The Gardens mission is To discover and share knowledge about plants and their environment, in
order to preserve and enrich life. The Gardens William L. Brown Center for Plant Genetic Resources focuses its research
specically on the identication, scientic study, and preservation of plants that are of direct use to humans.

vi

The Identication of Medicinal Plants:

Table of Contents
Table of Figures ............................................................................................................................ xi
Foreword .................................................................................................................................... xiii
Acknowledgements ......................................................................................................................xvi
Introduction ...............................................................................................................................xvii
Background ................................................................................................................................... 1
Basics of Plant Morphology .....................................................................................................................3
Practical Plant Identication ....................................................................................................................7
Botanical Nomenclature ...........................................................................................................................9
Description of Botanical Entries ............................................................................................................11
Botanical Entries ......................................................................................................................... 13
Achillea millefolium L. (Yarrow)...............................................................................................................14
Actaea racemosa L. (Black Cohosh)..........................................................................................................16
Adonis vernalis L. (Spring Adonis) .........................................................................................................18
Aesculus hippocastanum L. (Horse Chestnut) ...........................................................................................20
Agathosma betulina (P. J. Bergius) Pillans, A. crenulata (L.) Pillans, A. serratifolia (Curtis)
Spreeth (Buchu) ..............................................................................................................................21
Althaea ocinalis L. (Marshmallow) .......................................................................................................22
Andrographis paniculata (Burm. f.) Nees (Andrographis) ........................................................................23
Angelica sinensis (Oliv.) Diels (Dong Quai) ............................................................................................. 25
Apium graveolens L. (Celery) ...................................................................................................................26
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi (L.) Spreng. (Uva-Ursi).......................................................................................27
Arnica montana L. (Arnica).....................................................................................................................29
Artemisia absinthium L. (Wormwood) ....................................................................................................31
Artemisia annua L. (Sweet Wormwood) .................................................................................................32
Astragalus mongholicus Bunge (Astragalus) ..............................................................................................34
Berberis aquifolium Pursh, B. nervosa Pursh, B. repens Lindl. (Oregon Grape) ........................................36
Berberis vulgaris L. (Barberry) .................................................................................................................37
Betula pendula Roth, B. pubescens Ehrh. (Birch) ......................................................................................38
Calendula ocinalis L. (Calendula) .........................................................................................................39
Capsella bursa-pastoris (L.) Medik. (Shepherds Purse) ...........................................................................41

A Handbook of the Morphology of Botanicals in Commerce

vii

Carum carvi L. (Caraway).......................................................................................................................42

Caulophyllum thalictroides (L.) Michx. (Blue Cohosh) ............................................................................44
Centella asiatica (L.) Urb. (Gotu Kola)....................................................................................................45
Chamaelirium luteum (L.) A. Gray (False Unicorn) ................................................................................46
Chamaemelum nobile (L.) All. (Roman Chamomile)...............................................................................48
Cichorium intybus L. (Chicory) ...............................................................................................................49
Coriandrum sativum L. (Coriander) ........................................................................................................50
Crataegus laevigata (Poir.) DC, Crataegus monogyna Jacq. (Hawthorn) ................................................... 51
Crocus sativus L. (Sa ron) .......................................................................................................................54
Cucurbita pepo L. (Pumpkin) ...................................................................................................................55
Cytisus scoparius (L.) Link (Scotch Broom) ............................................................................................56
Dioscorea villosa L. (Wild Yam) ..............................................................................................................57
Echinacea angustifolia DC. (Echinacea angustifolia); E. pallida (Nutt.) Nutt. (Echinacea pallida) ............58
Echinacea purpurea (L.) Moench (Echinacea purpurea) ............................................................................60
Eleutherococcus senticosus (Rupr. & Maxim.) Maxim. (Eleuthero) ............................................................62
Epimedium brevicornu Maxim., E. grandiorum C. Morren, E. koreanum Nakai, E. pubescens
Maxim., E. sagittatum (Sieb. & Zucc.) Maxim., E. wushanense T. S. Ying (Epimedium)..................63
Equisetum arvense L. (Horsetail) .............................................................................................................66
Euphrasia ocinalis L. (Eyebright) ..........................................................................................................68
Fallopia japonica (Houtt.) Ronse Decraene ( Japanese Knotweed) ..........................................................70
Filipendula ulmaria (L.) Maxim. (Meadowsweet) ...................................................................................71
Foeniculum vulgare Mill. (Fennel) ...........................................................................................................72
Frangula purshiana (DC.) J. G. Cooper (Cascara Sagrada) .....................................................................73
Galium aparine L. (Cleavers)...................................................................................................................75
Gentiana lutea L. (Gentian) ....................................................................................................................77
Ginkgo biloba L. (Ginkgo) .......................................................................................................................79
Glycyrrhiza glabra L. (Licorice) ...............................................................................................................80
Hamamelis virginiana L. (Witch Hazel).................................................................................................81
Hibiscus sabdaria L. (Hibiscus) ..............................................................................................................82
Hydrastis canadensis L. (Goldenseal) .......................................................................................................84
Hypericum perforatum L. (St. Johns Wort) ..............................................................................................85
Hyssopus ocinalis L. (Hyssop) ...............................................................................................................86
Ilex paraguariensis A. St.-Hil. (Mat)......................................................................................................87
Illicium verum Hook. f. (Star Anise) .......................................................................................................89
Juniperus communis L. ( Juniper) ..............................................................................................................91
Lavandula angustifolia Mill. (English Lavender) ....................................................................................92

viii

The Identication of Medicinal Plants:

Ligusticum porteri J. M. Coult. & Rose (Osha)........................................................................................93

Linum usitatissimum L. (Flax) .................................................................................................................95
Lobelia inata L. (Lobelia) ......................................................................................................................96
Lycopus europaeus L. (European Bugleweed) ...........................................................................................98
Lycopus virginicus L. (Bugleweed) ...........................................................................................................99
Marrubium vulgare L. (Horehound) .....................................................................................................101
Matricaria chamomilla L. (Chamomile) ................................................................................................104
Medicago sativa L. (Alfalfa)...................................................................................................................105
Melissa ocinalis L. subsp. ocinalis (Lemon Balm) .............................................................................107
Mentha piperita L. (Peppermint).........................................................................................................109
Mitchella repens L. (Partridge berry)......................................................................................................110
Olea europaea L. (Olive) ........................................................................................................................112
Panax ginseng C. A. Mey. (Asian Ginseng); P. quinquefolius L. (American Ginseng) ...........................113
Passiora incarnata L. (Passionower)...................................................................................................115
Peumus boldus Molina (Boldo) ..............................................................................................................118
Phyllanthus amarus Schumach. & Thonn. (Phyllanthus amarus) ............................................................119
Phyllanthus fraternus G. L. Webster, P. niruri L., P. urinaria L. (Phyllanthus) .......................................122
Pimpinella anisum L. (Anise) ................................................................................................................126
Plantago afra L., P. arenaria Waldst. & Kit., P. asiatica L., P. ovata (Psyllium) ......................................128
Plantago major L. (Plantain) .................................................................................................................130
Prunella vulgaris L. (Heal All) ..............................................................................................................132
Rhamnus cathartica L. (Buckthorn) .......................................................................................................134
Rosmarinus ocinalis L. (Rosemary) .....................................................................................................135
Rubus idaeus L. (Raspberry) ..................................................................................................................136
Rumex crispus L. (Yellow Dock)............................................................................................................138
Salix alba L. (White Willow) ...............................................................................................................139
Salvia ocinalis L. (Sage)......................................................................................................................140
Sambucus nigra L. (European Elder) .....................................................................................................142
Sanguinaria canadensis L. (Bloodroot) ..................................................................................................145
Schisandra chinensis (Turcz.) Baill. (Schisandra) ....................................................................................146
Scutellaria lateriora L. (Skullcap) .........................................................................................................147
Senna alexandrina Mill. (Senna) ...........................................................................................................150
Serenoa repens (W. Bartram) Small (Saw Palmetto) ..............................................................................152
Sida cordifolia L. (Heart-Leaf Sida) ......................................................................................................153
Silybum marianum (L.) Gaertn. (Milk Thistle) .....................................................................................155
Smilax aristolochiifolia Mill., S. febrifuga Kunth, S. regelii Killip & C. V. Morton (Sarsaparilla) ............156

A Handbook of the Morphology of Botanicals in Commerce

ix

Solidago virgaurea L. (European Goldenrod) ........................................................................................158

Stellaria media (L.) Vill. (Chickweed) ...................................................................................................160
Stevia rebaudiana (Bertoni) Bertoni (Stevia) ........................................................................................162
Stillingia sylvatica Garden ex L. (Stillingia) ..........................................................................................163
Tanacetum parthenium (L.) Sch. Bip. (Feverfew)...................................................................................164
Taraxacum ocinale F.H.Wigg. (Dandelion) ........................................................................................166
Thymus vulgaris L. (Thyme) ..................................................................................................................168
Tilia cordata Mill., T. platyphyllos Scop., T. europaea L. (Linden) ........................................................170
Trifolium pratense L. (Red Clover) ........................................................................................................172
Trigonella foenum-graecum L. (Fenugreek) ............................................................................................173
Turnera diusa Willd. ex Schult. (Damiana) .........................................................................................174
Tylophora indica (Burm. f.) Merr. (Tylophora asthmatica) .......................................................................175
Ulmus rubra Muhl. (Slippery Elm) .......................................................................................................177
Urtica dioica L. subsp. dioica (Stinging Nettle) ......................................................................................178
Vaccinium macrocarpon Aiton (Cranberry).............................................................................................180
Vaccinium myrtillus L. (Bilberry) ...........................................................................................................181
Valeriana ocinalis L. (Valerian) ............................................................................................................ 182
Viburnum prunifolium L. (Black Haw) ..................................................................................................183
Viscum album L. (European Mistletoe) .................................................................................................184
Vitex agnus-castus L. (Chaste Tree) .......................................................................................................187
Vitis vinifera L. (Grape)........................................................................................................................188
Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal (Ashwagandha)....................................................................................189
Zingiber ocinale Roscoe (Ginger) .......................................................................................................190
Appendix ...................................................................................................................................193
General References ...............................................................................................................................194
Glossary ................................................................................................................................................195
Index .........................................................................................................................................205

The Identication of Medicinal Plants:

Table of Figures
Figure 1: Achillea millefolium ................................ 15

Figure 25: Equisetum arvense, E. palustre ............. 67

Figure 2: Actaea racemosa, A. podocarpa,

Figure 26: Euphrasia ocinalis, E. stricta .............. 69

A. pachypoda, A. rubra ..................................... 17

Figure 27: Filipendula ulmaria.............................. 71

Figure 3: Adonis vernalis ....................................... 19

Figure 28: Foeniculum vulgare............................... 73

Figure 4: Agathosma betulina, A. crenulata ............ 21

Figure 29: Galium aparine,

G. verum, G. odoratum ................................75-77

Figure 5: Andrographis paniculata ......................... 24

Figure 6: Apium graveolens, Ammi majus,
Ammi visnaga.................................................... 26

Figure 30: Ginkgo biloba ....................................... 79

Figure 31: Hamamelis virginiana.......................... 81

Figure 7: Arctostaphylos uva-ursi ........................... 28

Figure 32: Hibiscus sabdaria ................................ 83

Figure 8: Arnica montana, A. chamissonis .........29-30

Figure 33: Hypericum perforatum .......................... 85

Figure 9: Artemisia absinthium ............................. 31

Figure 34: Hyssopus ocinalis................................ 87

Figure 10: Artemisia annua ................................... 33

Figure 35: Ilex paraguariensis ................................ 88

Figure 11: Astragalus mongholicus ......................... 35

Figure 36: Illicium verum, I. anisatum................... 89

Figure 12: Berberis aquifolium, B. repens ............... 36

Figure 37: Lavandula angustifolia, L. latifolia.......92

Figure 13: Betula pendula, B. pubescens.............38-39

Figure 38: Ligusticum porteri ................................94

Figure 14: Calendula ocinalis.............................. 40

Figure 39: Linum usitatissimum ............................95

Figure 15: Capsella bursa-pastoris ......................... 41

Figure 40: Lobelia inata ................................ 96-97

Figure 16: Carum carvi, Cuminum cyminum......... 43

Figure 41: Lycopus europaeus ........................... 98-99

Figure 17: Centella asiatica ................................... 45

Figure 42: Lycopus virginicus...............................100

Figure 18: Chamaemelum nobile ............................ 48

Figure 43: Marrubium vulgare,

M. perigrinum, Ballota hirsuta,
B. nigra .................................................. 102-103

Figure 19: Cichorium intybus ................................ 49

Figure 20: Coriandrum sativum ............................ 50
Figure 21: Crataegus laevigata, C. monogyna....52-53

Figure 44: Matricaria chamomilla,

Anthemis cotula ...................................... 104-105

Figure 22: Echinacea pallida, E. angustifolia.......... 59

Figure 45: Medicago sativa..................................106

Figure 23: Echinacea purpurea ............................. 61

Figure 46: Melissa ocinalis,

Nepeta cataria ..................................... 107-108

Figure 24: Epimedium sagittatum,

E. grandiorum ................................................ 64

A Handbook of the Morphology of Botanicals in Commerce

Figure 47: Mentha piperita, M. canadensis ........109

xi

Figure 48: Mitchella repens ..................................111

Figure 67: Serenoa repens ....................................152

Figure 49: Olea europaea ............................. 112-113

Figure 68: Sida cordifolia.....................................153

Figure 50: Panax quinquefolius ................... 114-115

Figure 69: Silybum marianum .............................155

Figure 51: Passiora incarnata ............................117

Figure 70: Solidago virgaurea, S. gigantea............159

Figure 52: Peumus boldus ....................................118

Figure 71: Stellaria media ...................................161

Figure 53: Phyllanthus amarus .................... 119-120

Figure 72: Stevia rebaudiana...............................162

Figure 54: Phyllanthus fraternus,

Figure 73: Tanacetum parthenium,

T. vulgare ............................................... 164-165

P. niruri, P. urinaria ............................... 122-125

Figure 55: Pimpinella anisum,
Petroselinum crispum ......................................126

Figure 74: Taraxacum ocinale ...........................166

Figure 56: Plantago afra, P. major .......................128

Figure 76: Tilia platyphyllos, T. cordata,

T. europaea ........................................... 170-171

Figure 57: Plantago major, P. lanceolata,

Digitalis lanata ..............................................131

Figure 75: Thymus vulgaris, T. zygis ....................169

Figure 77: Trifolium pratense ..............................172

Figure 58: Prunella vulgaris ................................133

Figure 78: Trigonella foenum-graecum ................173

Figure 59: Rhamnus cathartica ............................134

Figure 79: Turnera diusa ...................................174

Figure 60: Rosmarinus ocinalis .........................135

Figure 80: Tylophora indica .................................176

Figure 61: Rubus idaeus, R. fruticosus ..................137

Figure 81: Urtica dioica, Urtica urens ..................179

Figure 62: Salvia ocinalis, S. fruticosa ...............141

Figure 82: Viscum album subsp. album ................185

Figure 63: Sambucus nigra ..................................143

Figure 83: Vitex agnus-castus ............................. 187

Figure 64: Sanguinaria canadensis ......................145

Figure 84: Vitis vinifera ..................................... 188

Figure 65: Scutellaria lateriora,

Teucrium canadense ................................ 148-149

Figure 85: Withania somnifera ........................... 189

Figure 66: Senna alexandrina, S. italica ..............151

xii

Figure 86: Leaf characters................................. 198

Figure 87: Common inorescence types ........... 199

The Identication of Medicinal Plants:

Equisetum arvense L.
Standardized Common Name: Horsetail
Other Common Names: Common Horsetail, Field
Horsetail, Joint Grass
Family: Equisetaceae
Taxonomy: Equisetum is a pteridophyte (non-seed plant) genus of about 15 species, found nearly worldwide. Hybridization
among similar species is not uncommon; E. litorale Khlewein
ex Ruprecht, a hybrid between E. arvense and E. uviatile, occurs throughout northern North America. Equisetum arvense is
extremely variable in gross morphology; Hauke (1966) estimates
that over 200 infraspecic taxa have been described. However,
the features that distinguish these supposed varieties or forms
are often under environmental control, so that multiple forms
may appear in a single individual.
Description: Perennial, rhizomatous herb with jointed stems
branching at the nodes; leaves whorled, reduced to a sheath surrounding the nodes. Reproductive stems and vegetative stems
generally separate; reproductive stems brown, unbranched,
short-lived, with rounded cones at apex; cones borne on vegetative stems in occasional abnormal plants. Vegetative stems 2100
cm tall, 0.84.5 mm in diameter; internodes 1.44.5 cm long,
with 416 ridges separated by valleys; in cross-section hollow,
with central canal 1/32/3 diameter of stem (reduced in small
stems), with large hollow spaces (vallecular canals) beneath valleys and small carinal canals beneath ridges, closer to central
canal. Leaf sheaths on stems squarish in face view, 25(10)
mm high, 25(9) mm broad; teeth 13.5 mm long, dark, narrow, often cohering in pairs. Branches in regular whorls at most
nodes, ascending, solid, 34-ridged, with rst internodes longer
than the subtending stem sheaths; sheath teeth attenuated.

Parts in Commerce: Vegetative stems

Adulterants: E. arvense may be confused with other species of Equisetum. It is particularly important that E. arvense be distinguished from E. palustre L., as the latter
species, which has been found as a contaminant of the
former, is toxic when consumed by livestock. Dierences
between the two include:
E. arvense
(4)810(16)

E. palustre
410

Position of branch
whorls on stem

Regular whorls along

whole length of stem

Length of first
internode of each
branch

Longer than
subtending stem
sheath

Only at midstem nodes;

other nodes lacking
branch whorls
Shorter than subtending
stem sheath

Branch ridge number

34

46

Central cavity of
branches

Absent; branches
solid

Present (observe near

base of branches)

Stem sheath teeth

Dark with
inconspicuous
light margins; often
cohering in pairs
Lanceolate-attenuate

Dark with conspicuous

white, membranous
margins

Number of stem ridges

and stem sheath teeth

Branch sheath teeth

Triangular

References:
Hauke RL. A systematic study of Equisetum arvense. Nova Hedwigia. 1966;13:81109.
Hauke RL. A taxonomic monograph of Equisetum Subgenus
Equisetum. Nova Hedwigia. 1978;30:385455.
Hauke RL. Equisetaceae. In: Flora of North America Editorial
Committee, eds. Flora of North America. Vol. 2. New York, NY:
Oxford University Press; 1993:7684.

Identication:
First internode of each branch, except at the lowest
nodes, longer than the subtending stem sheath
Branches solid, lacking central cavity
Branches occur in regular whorls on most or all of
stem, not confined to midstem or lower part of stem
Branches 34-angled, normally not further
branched
Stem sheath teeth (4)810(16), usually under
4 mm long, dark (not reddish), narrow, stiff (not
papery), often cohering in pairs
Branch sheath teeth attenuate (not broadly triangular)

66

The Identication of Medicinal Plants:

2 mm

3 mm

5 mm

2 cm

1 mm

Figure 25: ad, Equisetum arvense; eg, E. palustre.

A Handbook of the Morphology of Botanicals in Commerce

67

Pimpinella anisum L.
Standardized Common Name: Anise

Family: Apiaceae (Umbelliferae)

Odor of crushed fruit strong, aromatic

Taste characteristic, aromatic, pleasant

Taxonomy: Pimpinella is a genus of about 150 Old World

herbs. Pimpinella anisum is one of 16 species that grows wild
in Europe, and has been widely cultivated for millennia. Synonyms include Anisum ocinale DC., Anisum vulgare Gaertn.,
Apium anisum Crantz and Pimpinella aromatica Bieb.

2 mm

Description: Annual herb. Stem (10)3050(100) cm high,

sometimes bearing small bristles. Leaves basal and cauline; basal leaves petiolate, simple, ovate or reniform, 25 cm long, the
margins dentate to serrate; stem leaves with sheathing petioles,
alternate, 12(3)-pinnately or ternately compound, the leaets
ca. 1.54 cm long, linear or ovate to rhomboid and toothed to
deeply pinnatid. Inorescence a compound umbel, long-peduncled, with 715 rays, bractless or with 1 linear bract; umbellets 712(15)-owered, without bracteoles or with few small
linear bracteoles; owers small, white or yellowish, 5-petalled.
Fruit a schizocarp of 2 mericarps, (2)35(7) mm long, ovoid,
laterally compressed, constricted at commissure, with short scaly
hairs; vallecular vittae usually 3, commissural vittae 24(6);
stylopodium conical.

Parts in Commerce: Fruits

Schizocarp usually intact, not split into individual

mericarps, and often still attached to the slender
pedicel
(2)35(7) mm long
Ovoid or pear-shaped; apex narrowed and ending
in conical stylopodium
Broad at commissure, but grooved on both sides
between mericarps
Greenish or yellowish brown; ribs yellowish, paler
than valleculae
Ribs delicate, threadlike, straight, at least as broad
as high
Pubescent with small yellowish scaly hairs; hairs
may be worn o, but are easiest to observe in commissural grooves or in valleculae near apex
Vittae usually at least 3 per vallecula, quite inconspicuous; commissural vittae usually 24, observable in cross-section or in separated mericarps as
pale ridges on commissural face
Endosperm in cross-section at along commissural
face

126

0.5 mm

Identication: See glossary for explanation of the technical terms pertaining to umbel fruits.

Figure 55: a, Pimpinella anisum fruit; b, Petroselinum

crispum fruit.

The Identication of Medicinal Plants:

Adulterants: Literature reports adulteration by Petroselinum crispum (Mill.) A. W. Hill (Parsley), also important
in commerce, and Conium maculatum L. (poison hemlock), a toxic plant that is no longer sold as medicinal.
These share relatively small, ovoid fruits with threadlike
ribs (although some material of C. maculatum has narrow,
elongated fruits), but they may be distinguished easily by
several morphological features, as well as great dierences
in aroma and taste:
Pimpinella
anisum
Short scaly hairs,
often persistent
only in grooves
near apex and
commissure
Straight; usually
at least as broad
as high

Petroselinum
crispum
Hairless

Vittae

2 or more on
commissural face,
numerous and
hard to observe in
valleculae

Commissure

Fairly broad (but

narrower than
fruit)
Flat

2 on commissural
face; 1 per
vallecula, very
broad, giving
valleculae brown
color
Constricted

Pubescence

Primary ribs (in

dried fruits)

Endosperm at
commissural
face in crosssection

Straight; usually
broader than high

Flat

Conium
maculatum
Hairless;
minute teeth
may be seen
in valleculae of
immature fruits
Tend to undulate
especially in
immature fruits;
usually higher
than broad;
often somewhat
notched or
toothed
Absent at fruit
maturity

References:
Arenas Posada JA, Garca Martn F. Atlas carpolgico y
corolgico de la subfamilia Apioideae Drude (Umbelliferae) en
Espaa peninsular y Baleares. Ruizia. 1993;12:1245.
Cappellettii EM. Botanical identication of Anise and Hemlock fruits in powdered drug samples. Planta Med. 1979;39:88
94.
Matthews VA. Pimpinella. In: Davis PH. Flora of Turkey and the
East Aegean Islands. Vol. 4. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University
Press; 1972:352364.
Tutin TG. Pimpinella. In: Tutin TG, Heywood VH, Burges NA,
et al., eds. Flora Europaea. Vol. 2. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press; 1968:331333.
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Constricted

Deeply grooved

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