Umbel

In botany, an umbel is an inflorescence that consists of a number of short flower stalks (called pedicels) that spread from a common point, somewhat like umbrella ribs. The word was coined in botanical usage in the 1590s, from Latin umbella "parasol, sunshade". The arrangement can vary from being flat-topped to almost spherical. Umbels can be simple or compound. The secondary umbels of compound umbels are known as umbellules or umbellets. A small umbel is called an umbellule. The arrangement of the inflorescence in umbels is referred to as umbellate, or occasionally subumbellate (almost umbellate).

Umbels are a characteristic of plants such as carrot, parsley, dill, and fennel in the family Apiaceae; ivy, Aralia and Fatsia in the family Araliaceae; and onion (Allium) in the family Alliaceae.

An umbel is a type of indeterminate inflorescence. A compressed cyme, which is a determinate inflorescence, is called umbelliform if it resembles an umbel.

Gallery

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  Compound umbel of a hemlock-parsley, Conioselinum pacificum (Apiaceae)
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  Compound umbel of a wild carrot, Daucus carota (Apiaceae)
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  Simple umbel of Fatsia japonica (Araliaceae)
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  Involucrate simple umbels of Primula veris
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  Umbel of a Pelargonium zonale
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  Daucus carota umbel down view