parsley family: Meaning and Definition of

pars'ley fam"ily

1. the plant family Umbelliferae (or Apiaceae), characterized by herbaceous plants having alternate, usually compound leaves, hollow stems, numerous small flowers borne in umbels, and dry, seedlike, often aromatic fruit, and including anise, caraway, carrot, celery, dill, parsley, parsnip, and Queen Anne's lace, as well as poisonous plants such as cowbane and water hemlock.