worldwide, especially in extratropic regions in northern hemisphere
Floral characters
Inflorescences determinate, arranged in umbels, racemes, spikes or panicles. unisexual or bisexual, usually radial and small, sepals usually 5 distinct, very reduced. petals usually 5 occasionally more, distinct. developing from a ring primordium, sometimes clearly connate, often inflexed, imbricate to velvate. Stamens 5 but occasionally numerous, filaments distinct. Ovary inferior, usually with axile placentation. Style +/- swollen^. Carpels usually 2-5, occasionaly numerous, connate.
alternate, compound to simple, pinnate or palmate, deeply dissected or lobed, entire to serrate, with pinnate to palmate venation.
Stipules
present to absent
Fruit characters
with trichomes, hairs, are schizocarp, sometimes covered with scales or bristles, sometimes flattened or winged
Glands
absent
Hairs
absent
Latex
absent
Chemical characters
aromatic substances, some poisonous species, resin for gum-synthesis, some medically used substances : cardiovascularsystem, ethereal oils, triterpenoid saponins, cumarines, monoterpenes. umbelliferose as (a trisaccharide) as carbohydrate storage product.
Distribution maps
(online von http://www.mobot.org/MOBOT/research/APweb/ . Dort zitiert wie unter jedem Diagramm vermerkt):
