the identiﬁcation of medicinal plants

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Te Identification 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 BlumenthalFounder and Executive Director

American Botanical Council

and

Steven FosterPresident, Steven Foster Group

Botanist and Author

A joint project of

2006

Missouri Botanical GardenSt. Louis, Missouri

American Botanical CouncilAustin, exas


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About the Author

Wendy Applequist earned her Ph.D. in plant systematics from Iowa State University and is an assistant curator ithe William L. Brown Center for Plant Genetic Resources at the Missouri Botanical Garden. She conducts research o

the botany of medicinal plants and plants native to Madagascar. She has previously published articles in several journals

including Systematic Botany, axon, Plant Systematics and Evolution, Evolution and Development, Pharmazie, Flora, and

Adansonia.Tis is her first book.

Barbara Alongi is a scientific illustrator based at the Missouri Botanical Garden. Her illustrations accompany man

descriptions of new species of plants as well as monographic treatments. She is an illustrator for the Flora of North

America project.

About the Artist


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vi Te Identification of Medicinal Plants:

Te American Botanical Council (ABC) is the leading independent, nonprofit education and research organizationusing science-based and traditional information to promote the responsible use of herbal medicine. Te member-supported 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 ofhealthcare. Founded in 1988, ABC supports this vision through its mission to provide science-based and traditionalinformation to promote the responsible use of herbal medicine. ABC achieves its mission through:

Publication of its peer-reviewed journalHerbalGram

HerbClip literature review service

HerbalEGram electronic newsletter Publication of books and literature Information on its website, www.herbalgram.org

About the Missouri Botanical Garden

Te oldest continuously operating botanical garden west of the Mississippi, the Missouri Botanical Garden of St. Louisis an award-winning horticultural and educational institution whose many public attractions run the gamut from an old-fashioned herb garden to a brand-new Childrens Garden. Behind the scenes, it is also one of the worlds most active centersfor botanical systematic and floristic research, with about 150 full-time research staff who conduct field studies in dozens

of countries every year. Te Gardens mission is o discover and share knowledge about plants and their environment, inorder to preserve and enrich life. Te Gardens William L. Brown Center for Plant Genetic Resources focuses its researchspecifically on the identification, scientific study, and preservation of plants that are of direct use to humans.

About the American Botanical Council

vi

Continuing education materials for healthcareprrofessionals

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 CouncilP.O. Box 144345

Austin, X 78714-4345Phone: 512-926-4900Fax: 512-926-2345

oll free in the U.S.: 800-373-7105Email: [email protected].

Website: www.HerbalGram.org


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A Handbook of the Morphology of Botanicals in Commerce vi

Table of Contents

Table of Figures ............................................................................................................................ xi

Foreword .................................................................................................................................... xiii

Acknowledgements ......................................................................................................................xvi

Introduction ...............................................................................................................................xvii

Background ................................................................................................................................... 1

Basics of Plant Morphology .....................................................................................................................3

Practical Plant Identification ....................................................................................................................7

Botanical Nomenclature ...........................................................................................................................9

Description of Botanical Entries ............................................................................................................11

Botanical Entries ......................................................................................................................... 13

Achillea millefolium L. (Yarrow)...............................................................................................................14

Actaea racemosaL. (Black Cohosh)..........................................................................................................16

Adonis vernalisL. (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 offi cinalisL. (Marshmallow) .......................................................................................................22

Andrographis paniculata(Burm. f.) Nees (Andrographis) ........................................................................23

Angelica sinensis(Oliv.) Diels (Dong Quai) ............................................................................................. 25

Apium graveolensL. (Celery) ...................................................................................................................26

Arctostaphylos uva-ursi(L.) Spreng. (Uva-Ursi).......................................................................................27

Arnica montanaL. (Arnica) .....................................................................................................................29

Artemisia absinthium L. (Wormwood) ....................................................................................................31

Artemisia annuaL. (Sweet Wormwood) .................................................................................................32

Astragalus mongholicusBunge (Astragalus) ..............................................................................................34

Berberis aquifolium Pursh, B. nervosaPursh, B. repensLindl. (Oregon Grape) ........................................36

Berberis vulgarisL. (Barberry) .................................................................................................................37

Betula pendulaRoth, B. pubescensEhrh. (Birch) ......................................................................................38

Calendula offi cinalisL. (Calendula) .........................................................................................................39

Capsella bursa-pastoris(L.) Medik. (Shepherds Purse) ...........................................................................41

vi


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viii Te Identification of Medicinal Plants:

Carum carviL. (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 intybusL. (Chicory) ...............................................................................................................49

Coriandrum sativum L. (Coriander) ........................................................................................................50

Crataegus laevigata(Poir.) DC, Crataegus monogynaJacq. (Hawthorn) ................................................... 51

Crocus sativusL. (Saffron) .......................................................................................................................54

Cucurbita pepo L. (Pumpkin) ...................................................................................................................55

Cytisus scoparius(L.) Link (Scotch Broom) ............................................................................................56

Dioscorea villosaL. (Wild Yam) ..............................................................................................................57

Echinacea angustifoliaDC. (Echinacea angustifolia);E. pallida(Nutt.) Nutt. (Echinacea pallida) ............58

Echinacea purpurea(L.) Moench (Echinacea purpurea) ............................................................................60

Eleutherococcus senticosus(Rupr. & Maxim.) Maxim. (Eleuthero) ............................................................62Epimedium brevicornu Maxim.,E. grandiflorum C. Morren,E. koreanum Nakai,E. pubescens

Maxim.,E. sagittatum (Sieb. & Zucc.) Maxim.,E. wushanense. S. Ying (Epimedium)..................63

Equisetum arvenseL. (Horsetail) .............................................................................................................66

Euphrasia offi cinalisL. (Eyebright) ..........................................................................................................68

Fallopia japonica(Houtt.) Ronse Decraene (Japanese Knotweed) ..........................................................70

Filipendula ulmaria(L.) Maxim. (Meadowsweet) ...................................................................................71

Foeniculum vulgareMill. (Fennel) ...........................................................................................................72

Frangula purshiana(DC.) J. G. Cooper (Cascara Sagrada) .....................................................................73Galium aparineL. (Cleavers)...................................................................................................................75

Gentiana luteaL. (Gentian) ....................................................................................................................77

Ginkgo bilobaL. (Ginkgo) .......................................................................................................................79

Glycyrrhiza glabraL. (Licorice) ...............................................................................................................80

Hamamelis virginianaL. (Witch Hazel).................................................................................................81

Hibiscus sabdariffaL. (Hibiscus) ..............................................................................................................82

Hydrastis canadensisL. (Goldenseal) .......................................................................................................84

Hypericum perforatum L. (St. Johns Wort) ..............................................................................................85Hyssopus offi cinalisL. (Hyssop) ...............................................................................................................86

Ilex paraguariensisA. St.-Hil. (Mat)......................................................................................................87

Illicium verum Hook. f. (Star Anise) .......................................................................................................89

Juniperus communisL. (Juniper) ..............................................................................................................91

Lavandula angustifoliaMill. (English Lavender) ....................................................................................92


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A Handbook of the Morphology of Botanicals in Commerce ix

Ligusticum porteriJ. M. Coult. & Rose (Osha) ........................................................................................93

Linum usitatissimum L. (Flax) .................................................................................................................95

Lobelia inflataL. (Lobelia) ......................................................................................................................96

Lycopus europaeusL. (European Bugleweed) ...........................................................................................98

Lycopus virginicusL. (Bugleweed) ...........................................................................................................99

Marrubium vulgareL. (Horehound) .....................................................................................................101

Matricaria chamomillaL. (Chamomile) ................................................................................................104

Medicago sativaL. (Alfalfa) ...................................................................................................................105

Melissa offi cinalisL. subsp. offi cinalis (Lemon Balm) .............................................................................107

MenthapiperitaL. (Peppermint).........................................................................................................109

Mitchella repensL. (Partridge berry) ......................................................................................................110

Olea europaeaL. (Olive) ........................................................................................................................112

Panax ginsengC. A. Mey. (Asian Ginseng); P. quinquefoliusL. (American Ginseng) ...........................113

Passiflora incarnataL. (Passionflower) ...................................................................................................115

Peumus boldusMolina (Boldo) ..............................................................................................................118

Phyllanthus amarusSchumach. & Tonn. (Phyllanthus amarus) ............................................................119

Phyllanthus fraternusG. L. Webster, P. niruriL., P. urinariaL. (Phyllanthus) .......................................122

Pimpinella anisum L. (Anise) ................................................................................................................126

Plantago afraL., P. arenariaWaldst. & Kit., P. asiaticaL., P. ovata(Psyllium) ......................................128

Plantago majorL. (Plantain) .................................................................................................................130

Prunella vulgarisL. (Heal All) ..............................................................................................................132

Rhamnus catharticaL. (Buckthorn) .......................................................................................................134

Rosmarinus offi cinalisL. (Rosemary) .....................................................................................................135

Rubus idaeusL. (Raspberry) ..................................................................................................................136

Rumex crispusL. (Yellow Dock) ............................................................................................................138

Salix albaL. (White Willow) ...............................................................................................................139

Salvia offi cinalisL. (Sage)......................................................................................................................140

Sambucus nigraL. (European Elder) .....................................................................................................142

Sanguinaria canadensisL. (Bloodroot) ..................................................................................................145

Schisandra chinensis(urcz.) Baill. (Schisandra) ....................................................................................146

Scutellaria laterifloraL. (Skullcap) .........................................................................................................147

Senna alexandrinaMill. (Senna) ...........................................................................................................150

Serenoa repens(W. Bartram) Small (Saw Palmetto) ..............................................................................152

Sida cordifoliaL. (Heart-Leaf Sida) ......................................................................................................153

Silybum marianum (L.) Gaertn. (Milk Tistle) .....................................................................................155

Smilax aristolochiifoliaMill., S. febrifugaKunth, S. regeliiKillip & C. V. Morton (Sarsaparilla) ............156


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x Te Identification of Medicinal Plants:x

Solidago virgaureaL. (European Goldenrod) ........................................................................................158

Stellaria media(L.) Vill. (Chickweed) ...................................................................................................160

Stevia rebaudiana(Bertoni) Bertoni (Stevia) ........................................................................................162

Stillingia sylvaticaGarden ex L. (Stillingia) ..........................................................................................163

anacetum parthenium (L.) Sch. Bip. (Feverfew) ...................................................................................164

araxacum offi cinaleF.H.Wigg. (Dandelion) ........................................................................................166

Tymus vulgarisL. (Tyme) ..................................................................................................................168

ilia cordataMill., . platyphyllosScop., . europaeaL. (Linden) ........................................................170

rifolium pratenseL. (Red Clover) ........................................................................................................172

rigonella foenum-graecum L. (Fenugreek) ............................................................................................173

urnera diffusaWilld. ex Schult. (Damiana) .........................................................................................174

ylophora indica(Burm. f.) Merr. (ylophora asthmatica) .......................................................................175

Ulmus rubraMuhl. (Slippery Elm) .......................................................................................................177

Urtica dioicaL. subsp. dioica(Stinging Nettle) ......................................................................................178

Vaccinium macrocarpon Aiton (Cranberry) .............................................................................................180

Vaccinium myrtillusL. (Bilberry) ...........................................................................................................181

Valeriana offi cinalisL. (Valerian) ............................................................................................................ 182

Viburnum prunifolium L. (Black Haw) ..................................................................................................183

Viscum album L. (European Mistletoe) .................................................................................................184

Vitex agnus-castusL. (Chaste ree) .......................................................................................................187

Vitis viniferaL. (Grape) ........................................................................................................................188

Withania somnifera(L.) Dunal (Ashwagandha)....................................................................................189

Zingiber offi cinaleRoscoe (Ginger) .......................................................................................................190

Appendix ...................................................................................................................................193

General References ...............................................................................................................................194

Glossary ................................................................................................................................................195

Index .........................................................................................................................................205


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A Handbook of the Morphology of Botanicals in Commerce x

Table of Figures

x

Figure 1:Achillea millefolium ................................ 15

Figure 2:Actaea racemosa,A. podocarpa,

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

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

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

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

Figure 6:Apium graveolens,Ammi majus,

Ammi visnaga .................................................... 26Figure 7:Arctostaphylos uva-ursi ........................... 28

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

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

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

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

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

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

Figure 14: Calendula offi cinalis .............................. 40

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

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

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

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

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

Figure 20: Coriandrum sativum ............................ 50

Figure 21: Crataegus laevigata, C. monogyna....52-53

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

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

Figure 24:Epimedium sagittatum,E. grandiflorum ................................................ 64

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

Figure 26:Euphrasia offi cinalis,E. stricta .............. 69

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

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

Figure 29: Galium aparine,G. verum, G. odoratum ................................75-77

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

Figure 31: Hamamelis virginiana .......................... 81Figure 32: Hibiscus sabdariffa ................................ 83

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

Figure 34: Hyssopus offi cinalis ................................ 87

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Figure 43:Marrubium vulgare,M. perigrinum, Ballota hirsuta,B. nigra .................................................. 102-103

Figure 44:Matricaria chamomilla,Anthemis cotula ...................................... 104-105

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

Figure 46:Melissa offi cinalis,Nepeta cataria ..................................... 107-108

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


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xii Te Identification of Medicinal Plants:

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

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

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

Figure 51: Passiflora incarnata ............................117

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

Figure 53: Phyllanthus amarus .................... 119-120Figure 54: Phyllanthus fraternus,

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

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

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

Figure 57: Plantago major, P. lanceolata,Digitalis lanata ..............................................131

Figure 58: Prunella vulgaris ................................133Figure 59: Rhamnus cathartica ............................134

Figure 60: Rosmarinus offi cinalis ......................... 135

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

Figure 62: Salvia offi cinalis, S. fruticosa ...............141

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

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

Figure 65: Scutellaria lateriflora,eucrium canadense ................................ 148-149

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

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

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

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

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

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

Figure 72: Stevia rebaudiana ...............................162Figure 73: anacetum parthenium,

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

Figure 74: araxacum offi cinale ...........................166

Figure 75: Tymus vulgaris, . zygis .................... 169

Figure 76: ilia platyphyllos, . cordata,. europaea ........................................... 170-171

Figure 77: rifolium pratense ..............................172

Figure 78: rigonella foenum-graecum ................173Figure 79: urnera diffusa ...................................174

Figure 80: ylophora indica .................................176

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

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

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

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

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

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

Figure 87: Common inflorescence types ........... 199


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66 Te Identification of Medicinal Plants:

Other Common Names: Common Horsetail, FieldHorsetail, Joint Grass

Family: Equisetaceae

Taxonomy:Equisetum is a pteridophyte (non-seed plant) ge-nus of about 15 species, found nearly worldwide. Hybridizationamong similar species is not uncommon;E. litoraleKhleweinex Ruprecht, a hybrid betweenE. arvenseandE. fluviatile, oc-curs throughout northern North America.Equisetum arvenseisextremely variable in gross morphology; Hauke (1966) estimatesthat over 200 infraspecific taxa have been described. However,the features that distinguish these supposed varieties or formsare often under environmental control, so that multiple formsmay appear in a single individual.

Description: Perennial, rhizomatous herb with jointed stemsbranching at the nodes; leaves whorled, reduced to a sheath sur-rounding the nodes. Reproductive stems and vegetative stemsgenerally separate; reproductive stems brown, unbranched,short-lived, with rounded cones at apex; cones borne on vegeta-tive stems in occasional abnormal plants. Vegetative stems 2100cm 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 smallstems), with large hollow spaces (vallecular canals) beneath val-leys and small carinal canals beneath ridges, closer to centralcanal. Leaf sheaths on stems squarish in face view, 25(10)mm high, 25(9) mm broad; teeth 13.5 mm long, dark, nar-

row, often cohering in pairs. Branches in regular whorls at mostnodes, ascending, solid, 34-ridged, with first internodes longerthan the subtending stem sheaths; sheath teeth attenuated.

Parts in Commerce: Vegetative stems

Identification:

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 triangu-

lar)

Adulterants:E. arvensemay be confused with other spe-cies ofEquisetum. It is particularly important that E. ar-vense be distinguished from E. palustre L., as the latterspecies, which has been found as a contaminant of theformer, is toxic when consumed by livestock. Differencesbetween the two include:

E. arvense E. palustre

Number of stem ridgesand stem sheath teeth

(4)810(16) 410

Position of branchwhorls on stem

Regular whorls alongwhole length of stem

Only at midstem nodes;other nodes lackingbranch whorls

Length of firstinternode of eachbranch

Longer thansubtending stemsheath

Shorter than subtendingstem sheath

Branch ridge number 34 46

Central cavity ofbranches

Absent; branchessolid

Present (observe nearbase of branches)

Stem sheath teeth Dark withinconspicuouslight margins; oftencohering in pairs

Dark with conspicuouswhite, membranousmargins

Branch sheath teeth Lanceolate-attenuate Triangular

References:

Hauke RL. A systematic study ofEquisetum arvense.Nova Hed-wigia. 1966;13:81109.

Hauke RL. A taxonomic monograph ofEquisetum SubgenusEquisetum.Nova Hedwigia. 1978;30:385455.

Hauke RL. Equisetaceae. In: Flora of North America EditorialCommittee, eds. Flora of North America. Vol. 2. New York, NY:Oxford University Press; 1993:7684.

Equisetum arvense L.Standardized Common Name: Horsetail


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A Handbook of the Morphology of Botanicals in Commerce 67

2mm

2cm

5mm

1mm

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

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

3mm


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126 Te Identification of Medicinal Plants:

Family: Apiaceae (Umbelliferae)

Taxonomy: Pimpinella is a genus of about 150 Old World

herbs. Pimpinella anisum is one of 16 species that grows wildin Europe, and has been widely cultivated for millennia. Syn-onyms include Anisum offi cinaleDC.,Anisum vulgareGaertn.,Apium anisum Crantz and Pimpinella aromaticaBieb.

Description: Annual herb. Stem (10)3050(100) cm high,sometimes bearing small bristles. Leaves basal and cauline; bas-al leaves petiolate, simple, ovate or reniform, 25 cm long, themargins dentate to serrate; stem leaves with sheathing petioles,alternate, 12(3)-pinnately or ternately compound, the leafletsca. 1.54 cm long, linear or ovate to rhomboid and toothed todeeply pinnatifid. Inflorescence a compound umbel, long-pe-duncled, with 715 rays, bractless or with 1 linear bract; umbel-

lets 712(15)-flowered, without bracteoles or with few smalllinear bracteoles; flowers 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 scalyhairs; vallecular vittae usually 3, commissural vittae 24(6);stylopodium conical.

Parts in Commerce: Fruits

Identification: See glossary for explanation of the techni-cal terms pertaining to umbel fruits.

Schizocarp usually intact, not split into individual

mericarps, and often still attached to the slenderpedicel (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 off, but are easiest to observe in com-missural grooves or in valleculae near apex

Vittae usually at least 3 per vallecula, quite incon-spicuous; commissural vittae usually 24, observ-able in cross-section or in separated mericarps aspale ridges on commissural face

Endosperm in cross-section flat along commissuralface

Odor of crushed fruit strong, aromatic aste characteristic, aromatic, pleasant

Figure 55: a, Pimpinella anisum fruit; b, Petroselinumcrispum fruit.

Pimpinella anisum L.Standardized Common Name:Anise

2mm

0.5mm

A

B


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A Handbook of the Morphology of Botanicals in Commerce 127

Adulterants: Literature reports adulteration byPetroseli-num crispum (Mill.) A. W. Hill (Parsley), also importantin commerce, and Conium maculatum L. (poison hem-lock), a toxic plant that is no longer sold as medicinal.

Tese share relatively small, ovoid f ruits with threadlikeribs (although some material ofC. maculatum has narrow,elongated fruits), but they may be distinguished easily byseveral morphological features, as well as great differencesin aroma and taste:

Pimpinella

anisum

Petroselinum

crispum

Conium

maculatum

Pubescence Short scaly hairs,

often persistent

only in grooves

near apex and

commissure

Hairless Hairless;

minute teeth

may be seen

in valleculae of

immature fruits

Primary ribs (in

dried fruits)

Straight; usually

at least as broad

as high

Straight; usually

broader than high

Tend to undulate

especially in

immature fruits;

usually higher

than broad;

often somewhatnotched or

toothed

Vittae 2 or more on

commissural face,

numerous and

hard to observe in

valleculae

2 on commissural

face; 1 per

vallecula, very

broad, giving

valleculae brown

color

Absent at fruit

maturity

Commissure Fairly broad (but

narrower than

fruit)

Constricted Constricted

Endosperm at

commissural

face in cross-

section

Flat Flat Deeply grooved

References:

Arenas Posada JA, Garca Martn F. Atlas carpolgico ycorolgico de la subfamilia ApioideaeDrude (Umbelliferae) enEspaa peninsular y Baleares. Ruizia. 1993;12:1245.

Cappellettii EM. Botanical identification of Anise and Hem-lock fruits in powdered drug samples. Planta Med. 1979;39:8894.

Matthews VA. Pimpinella. In: Davis PH. Flora of urkey and theEast Aegean Islands. Vol. 4. Edinburgh: Edinburgh UniversityPress; 1972:352364.

utin G. Pimpinella. In: utin G, Heywood VH, Burges NAet al., eds. Flora Europaea. Vol. 2. Cambridge: Cambridge Uni-

versity Press; 1968:331333.

utin G. Umbellifers of the British Isles. London: Botanical So-ciety of the British Isles; 1980. B.S.B.I. Handbook, No. 2.

Wichtl M, ed. Herbal Drugs and Phytopharmaceuticals, 3rd Eng-lish ed. Stuttgart: medpharm Scientific Publishers and BocaRaton, FL: CRC Press; 2004:4244.

the identiﬁcation of medicinal plants

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