Carum: Answers to key questions in Budd's Flora (BF) and Flora of Alberta (FOA) leading to this genus. 

	plants with a taproot; NOT [plants with tuberous roots]
	plants generally 3-5 dm tall; NOT [plants less than 3 dm tall, usually 1-2 dm], NOT [plants generally more than 5 dm tall] (FOA)
	plants to 1 m high; NOT [stout plants to 3 m high] (BF)
	plants NOT with a bluish tinge
	stem NOT purple-blotched
	plants with stem leaves; NOT [plants scapose]
	lower stem leaves alternate, stem leaves sometimes opposite in the inflorescence; NOT [lower stem leaves opposite, most leaves basal]
	lowest leaves (and the upper) compound; NOT [lowest leaves simple] (FOA)
	leaves 2 or more times pinnate or ternate; NOT [leaves once pinnate] (FOA)
	leaves much divided, with leaflets or segments numerous; NOT [leaves simple or divided into few well-developed leaflets] (BF)
	leaf segments more than 5; NOT [leaf segments few, usually 5] (BF)
	foliage NOT spiny (BF)
	NOT [leaves usually trifoliolate, leaflets palmate, 10-30 cm wide] (FOA)
	NOT [leaves palmate with 5-7 large leaflets] (FOA)
	foliage NOT digitately compound (BF)
	plants lacking axillary bulblets; NOT [plants with axillary bulblets largely replacing flowers]
	inflorescence NOT bluish
	flowers NOT in dense globose heads
	umbel compound; NOT [umbel simple]
	umbel many-flowered; NOT [umbel few-flowered]
	involucral bracts small; NOT [involucral bracts large]
	involucral bracts slightly or not dissected; NOT [involucral bracts pinnately dissected]
	involucral bracts NOT spiny
	flowers white or pinkish; NOT [flowers yellow]
	fruit oblong to elliptical; NOT [fruit linear to clavate]
	fruit about twice as long as broad; NOT [fruit about as long as broad or slightly longer] , NOT [fruit several times longer than broad]
	fruits flattened laterally (parallel to the styles); NOT [fruits flattened dorsally (at right angles to the styles]
	fruit NOT covered with short, hooked spines

Umbelliferae: Answers to key questions in Budd's Flora  leading to this family. 

	herbs; NOT [shrubs or trees]
	plants terrestrial or semiaquatic; NOT [plants aquatic, leaves submerged or floating]
	plants NOT with colored milky juice
	stems hollow
	plants with more than one normal leaf
	some or all leaves alternate; NOT [leaves opposite, whorled, or basal]
	leaves without stipules, or having glands; NOT [leaves with stipules]
	flowers in umbels
	parts of flowers mostly in fives; NOT [parts of flowers in twos or fours]
	flowers with two floral rings, and with each petal distinct from the others]
	calyx regular; NOT [calyx irregular, some sepals smaller than others]
	stamens 10 or fewer; NOT [stamens usually more than 10]
	ovary inferior
	styles 2; NOT [styles 5]