by Mary Free and Christa Watters, Extension Master Gardeners
A cluster of flowers is called an inflorescence. The most common types of inflorescences—racemes and panicles—occur widely across plant families. Even the most casual observer is likely acquainted with at least a few examples. But what of an umbel?
Those who grow culinary gardens are familiar with umbels. The Apiaceae (carrot family), also known as the Umbelliferae (the umbel-bearing family), includes many well-known herbs such as caraway, cilantro, dill, fennel, and parsley as well as vegetables like carrot and celery.
Click here to learn what makes an umbel different than a raceme and why some flora describe flowers, which are often referred to as umbels, as umbellate or umbelliform instead.
Photo © Matt Lavin CC BY-SA 2.0
