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.

Perennial shrub, erect or scrambling 1-3 m high. Stems round, pubescent; leaves opposite, 6-12 cm long, ovate to ovate-lanceolate, blades three-nerved from the base, pubescent above and below with copious yellow glands among the hairs beneath, margins irregularly dentate; capitula in terminal corymbs, up to 5-10 cm wide; florets 14-25 pale mauve or white; achenes ribbed 4-5mm long.

Biennial, tap-rooted, pungent herb. Leaves forming a basal rosette, oblanceolate, serrate-dentate, 30 cm x 4 cm; inflorescence widely spreading from the main shoot; flower heads cylindrical ca 1.5 cm long, green, subtended by a whorl of 5- 6 unequal bracts; fruits scaly, ca 2 mm long.

Perennial, stoloniferous plant, with fibrous roots.  Culms tufted 40-100 cm tall 3.6 mm thick, cylindrical, hollow, transversely septate; spikelets cylindrical, up to 6 cm long x 5-7 mm wide; glumes straw-coloured, oblong to obovate 4-5 mm x 3 mm; stamens 3, style 3-fid.  Achenes oval to obovate 1.5-2 mm long, biconvex, slightly shiny, brownish-yellow.