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The Apiaceae is a nearly cosmopolitan family that occurs from the tropics to temperate regions. Many genera are economically important as culinary herbs (dill, celery, caraway, coriander, cumin, fennel, anise) or as foods (carrot, parsnip, celery, parsley). However, many are extremely poisonous (Conium, the hemlock that killed Socrates, and Cicuta, water hemlock). Very recently combined with this family (in the subfamily Aralioideae) are members of the family Araliaceae (which I've left as a separate family in this list). The Apiaceae is most recognizable by it inflorescence structure, a compound umbel. The leaves of the Apiaceae are pinnately compound with a characteristic "ferny" appearance. The fruits are schizocarps--two carpels that split at maturity into single-seeded parts that remain attached by their tips to a thin stalk between them.