ANETHUM

Anethum L., Sp. Pl. 263. 1753; Gen. Pl. 5: 127. 1754; Boiss., Fl. Or. 2: 1026. 1872; Hiroe, Umbel. Asia. 1: 182. 1958; Tutin in Tutin et al., Fl. Eur. 2: 341. 1968; Menglan & Watson, Fl. China @ eFloras.org 14: 134. 2005; Fl. Pak. @ eFloras.org

Annual or biennial herbs, glaucous. Stem erect, terete. Leaves petiolate, 2-4 pinnately dissected, ultimate segments filiform; leaf bases sheathing, sheaths scarious margined. Inflorescence of loose compound umbels; peduncles much branched, rays numerous, unequal; bracts and bracteoles lacking. Flowers bisexual, usually actinomorphic, epigynous, pentamerous. Calyx teeth obsolete. Petals 5, yellow, costa brown, apex much incurved. Stamens 5, free, inflexed in bud, alternating with petals. Ovary inferior, bilocular with single ovule in each loculus; styles 2, short, erect or recurved after flowering; stylopodium conic. Fruit ellipsoid or ovoid-ellipsoid, strongly dorsally flattened; dorsal ribs filiform, slightly prominent; lateral ridges broader and narrowly winged, furrows 1-vittate, commissure 2-4- vittate; carpophore 2-cleft to base; inner seed face plane to slightly concave.

2 species

Anethum graveolens

Anethum graveolens L., Sp. Pl. 263. 1753; Boiss., Fl. Or. 2: 1026. 1872; Buw., Blumea 2: 202. 1936; Hiroe, Umbel. Asia. 1: 182. 1958; Kaur & Sharma, Fl. Sirmaur 319. 2004; Menglan & Watson, Fl. China @ eFloras.org 14: 134. 2005; Fl. Pak. @ eFloras.org; Anethum sowa Roxb. ex Flem., Asiatic Res. 11: 156. 1810; Wight, Icon t. 572. 1842; Peucedanum graveolens (L.) Benth. & Hook. f. ex Hiern, Fl. Trop. Afr. 3: 19. 1877; Clarke in Hook. f., Fl. Brit. Ind. 2: 709. 1879; Hiern, Fl. Trop. Afr. 3: 19. 1871; P. sowa (Roxb.) Kurz., J. Asiat. Soc. Bengal, Pt. 2, Nat. Hist. 46: 116. 1877.

Annual herbs, 30-100 cm tall, glabrous, strongly aromatic. Stem erect, terete. Leaves alternate, petiolate; basal leaf blade broadly ovate, 2-4 pinnate dissected, ultimate segments filiform, 4-20 mm x 0.5 mm, upper leaves smaller and less divided; petioles sheathing throughout. Inflorescence of loose compound umbels; 5-15 cm across; peduncles up to 15 cm long, much branched, rays up to 15 cm long, much branched, rays 8 to many (25), unequal, 3-5 cm; umbellules 15-25-flowered, pedicels 6-10 mm. Bracts and bracteoles absent. Calyx teeth obsolete. Petals 5, yellow, apex much incurved, costa brown. Stamens 5, free, inflexed in bud, alternating with petals. Ovary inferior, bilocular with single ovule in each loculus; styles 2, short, erect; stylopodium conic. Fruit ellipsoid or ovoid-ellipsoid, brown, 3-5 mm x 2-2.5 mm, dorsal and intermediate ribs distinct, lateral ribs narrowly winged, grey white; furrows 1-vittate, commissures 2-4 vittate; carpophore 2-cleft to base; inner seed face plane to slightly concave.

Flowering and Fruiting: January to April
Common Names: Soe, Sowa, Dill