Mostly aromatic herbs with hollow stems in the internodal regions. Leaves usually pinnate, sometimes palmate, alternate and spiral, with sheathing petioles. Inflorescence a simple or compound umbel, often with subtending involucral bracts. Flowers small, perfect, radial, calyx usually 5 reduced, distinct sepals, corolla of 5 distinct petals, 5 stamens emerging from a stylopodium, 2 connate carpels, the ovaries inferior with axile placentation. Fruits a schizocarp of mericarps, supported by carpophores upon splitting.