e-Key v3 - *Daucus
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Interactive keys to the identification of seed plants of southern Africa using keys based on plant morphology.

Apiaceae - Apioideae - *Daucus L.

Description :

  • Annual or biennial herbs; stems erect, with stiff, bristle-like hairs; taproot fleshy
  • Leaves bipinnate, lower ones with acute, lanceolate segments, upper ones much smaller and less divided
  • Flowers in terminal umbels; involucre conspicuous, with numerous, narrow, 3-forked bracts
  • Calyx minute
  • Petals broadly obovate, notched, white
  • Fruit elliptic, with sharp bristles
  • x = 9, 11 (6, 8, 10) (polyploidy)

Nomenclature:

  • *Daucus L.
    • Linnaeus: 242 (1753)
    • Burmann: 8 (1768)
    • Sonder: 563 (1862)
    • Pimenov & Leonov: 43 (1993)

Distribution & Notes:

  • Global : Species 22, Europe, Asia, N Africa, Australia
  • Southern Africa : Species 1: * Daucus carota L., the cultivated Carrot; occurs sporadically as an escape and roadside weed

References:

  • BURMANN, N.L. 1768. Florae capensis prodromus , at end of Flora indica . Haak, Leiden
  • LINNAEUS, C. 1753. Species plantarum . Laurentius Salvius, Stockholm
  • PIMENOV, M.G. & LEONOV, M.V. 1993. The genera of the Umbelliferae . A nomenclator . Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
  • SONDER, W. 1862. Umbelliferae . Flora capensis 2