Erect perennial, glabrous branched herb up to 2 m tall. Leaves alternate with swollen sheaths 3-10 cm long, pale-edged and three or four times pinnatisect, forming fine thread-like segments; inflorescence in terminal umbels 12 cm diameter, flowers yellow 1-2 mm in diameter; fruit ovoid 5-6 mm long, greenish-brown with prominent ridges.

This species is frequently confused with Anethum graveolens, in spite of the fact that the latter has a shorter petiolar sheath and its fruit features tightly winged ribs, the two side ribs being broader.

Trees, up to 40 m high.  Stem erect; bark smooth, scaly.  Leaves simple, alternate, aromatic.

Many species were introduced into North and South America and almost all of them are used in traditional medicine.  Furthermore, hybridization has occurred between the different species which makes identification difficult.  Therefore, no detailed description is provided for a species.

Annual herb ranging from erect to creeping habit.  Leaves opposite, rough on both surfaces, sessile, elliptic-lanceolate, 8 cm x 2 cm, margin serrulate. Inflorescences axillary on long stalks; flower-heads 1 cm across, florets white; achenes black, wrinkled, without pappus appendages.

Herbaceous, dioecious, climber with glabrous stem, bearing in leaf axils, large, brown, tuberculate bulbils ca 15 cm in diameter; leaves alternate, simple, cordate at base, petioles 6-14 cm long, blades broadly ovate 15-25 cm x 7-20 cm; male flowers borne on clustered spikes up to 20 cm long; female flowers borne on simple spikes 10-15 cm long; fruit a capsule oblong 2.5 cm x1.5 cm.