Parsleys, Fennels, and Queen Anne's Lace: Herbs and Ornamentals from the Umbel Family

by Barbara Perry Lawton

Parsleys, Fennels, and Queen Anne's Lace is the gardener's introduction to the characteristics, cultivation, and history of one of the most distinctive families of the plant kingdom. These plants were well known to the Greeks and Romans--it was the juice of a member of the umbel family that Socrates was forced to drink--and the family was the first to be studied as such botanically, by Robert Morison in 1672. Yet even today the many herbs and ornamentals...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0881928224
• ISBN13: 9780881928228
• Release Date: May 2007
• Publisher: Timber Press (OR)
• Length: 176 Pages
• Weight: 1.15 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 6.4" x 9.1"

Customer Reviews

The definitive book on umbels

One can't help but make more notice of plants in the umbel family after reading Barbara Perry Lawton's book. I dipped into it after finding it on the shelf at my local botanic garden's shop. In no time I was drawn into the world of parsley and its relatives by her engaging and conversational writing style. I had no idea previously of the relationship of the Apiacea to humankind. Or that carrots are x-rated (check out Daucus carota var. sativa). The usefulness of Apiaceae to me as a home gardener and horticultural educator is in the many colors, textures and forms they add to our borders. Less desirable are the weedy species and those "black sheep" (goutweed is the worst!) are given needed attention as well. Others readers will appreciate the umbel's usefulness in table arrangements and, of course, cooking. One can also stir up a poisonous stew from this group of plants as one learns from the many interesting tales Mrs. Lawton weaves into her discussions. The book discusses endangered plants within these species and the many species that draw beneficial insects to the garden. The illustrations from treasured old herbals are as revealing as the modern-day photos in the book. This book is fun to read as well as being an important and detailed reference work.

Needed Addition

What a delight--an authoritive but altogether readable book about an understudied, underpublicized, underappreciated, and undercultivated plant family. Lawton does it all, but perhaps most helpful is her identification of Umbel family plants that will flourish in and embellish any garden. Kudos to Timber Press for publishing this book, and to Lawton for writing it.