Spices and Condiments (1+1)

Description of the plant

• Celery is a herbaceous annual or biennial erect herb growing to a height of 60-90 cm. It has a shallow taproot system. The stem is branched, succulent and ridged. The leaves are reduced, pinnate, large, deeply divided and coarsely-toothed at the apex. The leaflets are ovate to suborbicular, 3-lobed, 2.0-4.5 cm long.
• The inflorescence is a compound umbel. The flowers are small and white and the calyx teeth are obsolete. There are five ovate, acute petals, with their tips inflexed. The carpels are semi-terete, sub-pentagonal, the primary ridges being distinct and filiform.
• The fruit is a schizocarp with two mericarps, suborbicular to ellipsoid, 1-2 mm in diameter, aromatic and slightly bitter. Celery is naturally cross-pollinated but not self-incompatible.