There is a popular impression that the Umbelliferae, with a few conspicuous exceptions such as Eryngium and Bupleurum, are almost indistinguishable from one another unless you have ripe fruit and a microscope.

Introduction.

The Umbelliferae fall fairly clearly into three subfamilies, Hydrocotyloideae, Saniculoideae and Apioideae, the first of which has someimes been regarded as a separate family.

Classification and relationships.