Cactaceae and Umbelliferae or Apiaceae

Cactaceae

(Cactus family)

                               

Cactaceae are mainly fleshy, succulent or xerophytic, perennial herbs, shrubs or trees of diverse forms, with spines or bristles or both. The family includes approximately 85 genera and 2000 species. Members are distributed chiefly in semi desert or drier regions of tropical and subtropical America, and also in Africa, Mauritius, Seychelles, India, Sri Lanka and Australia. 

Some larger genera are: 

• Mammillaria, 
• Opuntia, 
• Echinocereus, 
• Rhipsalis, 
• Cereus, 
• Cephalocereus, 
• Echinopsis, 
• Epiphyllum and 
• Pereskia. 

Selected Indian genera are: 

• Opuntia, 
• Mammillaria, 
• Cereus and 
• Echinocactus.

Economic Importance

1. Cactaceae are mainly of ornamental value. Some commonly grown ornamentals include species of  Mammillaria, Opuntia, Echinocereus, Cereus, Cephalocereus, Echinocactus, Rebutia and Stenocereus.
2. Fruits of Nopalea cochenillifera, Lophophora williamsii and several Opuntia species are edible.
3. Stems of several cacti are used as emergency fodder.
4. A red dye, cochineal, used in cosmetics, is obtained from several species of Opuntia.
5. Some species of Cereus and opuntia have medicinal properties.

Umbelliferae or Apiaceae

(Carrot family)

Apiaceae consists mostly of biennial or perennial herbs with stout stems and hollow internodes; some are prostrate herbs (Centella, Hydrocotyle), few species of Bulpeurum and Trachymene are somewhat shrubby. Plants of the family emit aromatic smell due to the presence of essential oil or oleoresin in all organs. A family of about 275 genera and 3000 species, Umbelliferae are cosmopolitan in distribution and chiefly found in North temperate zone of the world. Over 50 genera and about 200 species have been reported from India. 

Some larger genera are: 

• Eryngium, 
• Pimpinella, 
• Bupleurum, 
• Ferula, 
• Peucedanum and 
• Hydrocotyle. 

Selected Indian genera are: 

• Centella, 
• Coriandrum, 
• Daucus, 
• Ferula and 
• Foeniculum.

Economic Importance

Vegetables:

Certain plants of Apiaceae which provide us vegetables, which are either eaten raw or cooked, include-

• Apium graveolens (celery),
• Daucus carota (carrot),
• Pastinaca sativa (parsnip) and
• Petroselinum crispum (parsley).

Condiments, spices and flavouring agents:

Mature fruits and seeds of several plants are used as spices, condiments and for flavouring biscuits, breads, cheese, etc. Common species are-

• Anethum graveolens (Sowa or dill),
• Apium graveolens (celery seeds),
• Carum cravi (caraway),
• Coriandrum sativum (Coriander),
• Cuminum cyminum (cumin),
• Foeniculum vulgare (fennel),
• Carum capticum (ajwain),
• T. roxburghianum (ajmud).

Almost all these plants are carminative, stimulant and used in stomach disorders as well as in many dishes in India, China and several other countries.

'Heeng': 

'Heeng' of economic importance or asafoetida is the dried latex obtained after making incisions in the roots and root stocks of Ferula assafoetida and F. narthex. Asafoetida is an oleoresin and used as a condiment as well as in medicines. It stimulates respiratory as well as nervous and intestinal systems.

Poison:

Conium maculatum (poison hemlock) is a deadly poison and was used to kill the great Greek philosopher, Socrates. Cicuta virosa (water hemlock) is also poisonous.

Medicinal Value:

Centella asiatica (brahmi booti) is the king of medicinal plants. It is used as brain tonic and also in madness and leprosy. Ferula sumbule is used in curing hysteria.

Ornamental plants:

Some of the ornamentals of Apiaceae include: 

• Angelica archangelica (Angelica), 
• Aegopodium podograria, 
• Heracleum maxima and 
• Trachymene caerulea.