dill

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• dill
• garden dill

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Pastinaca graveolens
• Pastinaca anethum
• Peucedanum anethum
• Selinum graveolens
• Anethum graveolens subsp. segetum
• Angelica graveolens
• Anethum graveolens var. segetum
• Anethum graveolens var. submarginatum
• Selinum anethum
• Anethum pusillum
• Anethum segetum
• Anethum graveolens var. chevallieri
• Anethum graveolens var. hortorum
• Anethum arvense
• Anethum graveolens var. sowa
• Anethum graveolens var. anatolicum
• Anethum graveolens subsp. australe
• Anethum graveolens var. copiosum
• Anethum graveolens var. nanum
• Anethum graveolens var. parvifolium
• Anethum graveolens subsp. sowa
• Anethum graveolens var. tenerifrons
• Anethum sowa
• Ferula marathrophylla
• Ferula graveolens
• Peucedanum sowa

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta within the class Equisetopsida. Following the subclass Magnoliidae, it is organized into the order Apiales and the family Apiaceae. Finally, it is identified by the genus Anethum, which includes the species Anethum graveolens.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a widespread presence across several regions within Northern Europe. It can be found growing naturally throughout the coastal and inland areas of Denmark. Furthermore, its distribution extends northward into the landscapes of Finland and Norway. The species is also well-established within the British Isles, specifically in Great Britain and Ireland. Together, these locations highlight the plant's significant range across the northern reaches of the continent.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Anethum graveolens is characterized by its broad adaptability to diverse environments and significant altitudinal distribution. It thrives across a vast elevational range, extending from sea level (0 m AMSL) up to a maximum altitude of 2600 m AMSL. This species is commonly found in anthropogenically influenced habitats, frequently colonizing disturbed or managed landscapes such as cropfields, oldfields, parks, and other inhabited places.

Elevational range max:

2600 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

cropfields,inhabitedplaces,oldfields,parks

Genetics

The genetics of Anethum graveolens are characterized by a specific chromosomal configuration that defines its cellular structure and reproductive biology. The species possesses a chromosome number of 22, providing the foundational genetic blueprint for its development and phenotypic expression. Furthermore, the plant exhibits a diploid ploidy level of 2, indicating that its somatic cells contain two complete sets of chromosomes. This stable genomic arrangement contributes to the hereditary consistency of the plant's medicinal properties and morphological traits.

Chromosome number :

22

Ploidy :

2

Life history

The life history of Anethum graveolens is characterized by an annual lifecycle, meaning the plant completes its entire developmental sequence—from germination to seed production and death—within a single growing season. Functioning as a therophyte, it survives the unfavorable off-season primarily through the dispersal of seeds rather than through persistent above-ground or below-ground vegetative structures. This life strategy as a therophyte allows the species to rapidly colonize disturbed soils and take full advantage of seasonal resource availability, ensuring the continuation of its lineage through a prolific seed bank before the onset of environmental stressors.

Life form :

therophyte

Lifecycle :

annual

Morphology

The morphology of Anethum graveolens is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb, specifically classified as a forb. It is an independent organism that does not function as a parasite or an epiphyte, maintaining a strictly terrestrial existence. The plant exhibits a self-supporting structure and an erect shoot orientation. In terms of stature, it reaches a minimum height of 0.4 m, with an average plant height of 0.77 m, and can achieve a maximum height of up to 1.7 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

1.7 m

Plant height mean:

0.77 m

Plant height min:

0.4 m

Shoot orientation :

erect

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Anethum graveolens is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which governs its carbon fixation processes. The plant exhibits non-succulent foliage and is a non-carnivorous species that does not possess the capability for nitrogen fixation. Its leaf morphology is predominantly filiform in form, with leaf lengths ranging from a minimum of 0.4 cm to a maximum of 35 cm, and a mean length of approximately 1.2 cm. The leaf width varies between a minimum of 10 cm and a maximum of 12 cm, contributing to a mean leaf size of 7.81265 cm². Furthermore, the plant maintains a mean Specific Leaf Area (SLA) of 184.65 cm²/g, reflecting its leaf mass per unit area and its efficiency in light interception and gas exchange.

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Leaf form :

filiform

Leaf length max:

35 cm

Leaf length mean:

1.2 cm

Leaf length min:

0.4 cm

Leaf size mean:

7.81265 cm²

Leaf width max:

12 cm

Leaf width min:

10 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

184.65 cm²/g

Succulence :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Anethum graveolens is characterized by a bisexual sexual reproductive system. The plant produces green flowers arranged in an umbel inflorescence, which ranges in length from 0.07 m to 0.16 m. These flowers are quite small, with lengths measuring between 0.05 cm and 0.1 cm. The pollination process is primarily biotic, involving insects, specifically bees, to facilitate fertilization, although self-fertilization is also present. Following pollination, the plant develops fruits that typically measure between 0.3 cm and 0.6 cm in length and 0.2 cm to 0.25 cm in width, with average dimensions of 0.4 cm by 0.225 cm. Each fruit is highly prolific, containing more than 1,000 seeds. These seeds are very lightweight, with a mean mass of approximately 0.00172 g, ranging from a minimum of 0.001 g to a maximum of 0.0022 g. The flowering period typically begins in July and concludes in September. Dispersal of the seeds follows an unspecialized syndrome, though it is also noted to be anthropochorous, indicating human-mediated movement.

Dispersal syndrome :

unspecialized

Dispersal syndrome :

anthropochorous

Flower colour :

green

Flower length max:

0.1 cm

Flower length min:

0.05 cm

Flowering time :

Jul

Flowering time :

Sep

Fruit length max:

0.6 cm

Fruit length mean:

0.4 cm

Fruit length min:

0.3 cm

Fruit width max:

0.25 cm

Fruit width mean:

0.225 cm

Fruit width min:

0.2 cm

Inflorescence :

umbel

Inflorescence length max:

0.16 m

Inflorescence length min:

0.07 m

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

bee

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Reproduction sexual :

bisexual

Seed mass max:

0.0022 g

Seed mass mean:

0.00171966666666667 g

Seed mass min:

0.001 g

Seeds_per_fruit :

>1000

Self fertilization :

present

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Anethum graveolens has 3 reported plant parts identified across 12 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include seed, fruit, leaf.

Seed

1. Journal of plant research
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology
3. Phytotherapy research : PTR
4. Complementary therapies in medicine
5. Chinese journal of integrative medicine

Fruit

1. International journal of molecular sciences
2. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials
3. Drug target insights

Leaf

1. Journal of plant research
2. Cureus
3. International journal of molecular sciences

Chemicals

Anethum graveolens has 271 reported phytochemicals identified across 12 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include CARVONE, LIMONENE, Flavonoids, P-CYMENE, Coumarins.

CARVONE

1. Dr. Duke
2. Scientific reports
3. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie
4. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
5. Journal of the science of food and agriculture

LIMONENE

1. Dr. Duke
2. Scientific reports
3. International journal of molecular sciences
4. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
5. Frontiers in plant science

Flavonoids

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine
2. American journal of therapeutics
3. Bosnian journal of basic medical sciences
4. Journal of ethnopharmacology
5. Pharmacognosy reviews

P-CYMENE

1. Dr. Duke
2. Scientific reports
3. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie
4. International journal of molecular sciences
5. Frontiers in plant science

Coumarins

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology
3. Bosnian journal of basic medical sciences
4. Pharmacognosy reviews

Dill ether

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of evidence-based complementary & alternative medicine
3. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
4. Pharmacognosy reviews

Myristicin

1. Dr. Duke
2. PloS one
3. Pharmacognosy reviews

Tannins

1. Dr. Duke
2. BMC complementary and alternative medicine
3. American journal of therapeutics

ANETHOLE

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of advanced research

Apiol

1. Dr. Duke
2. Scientific reports

Activities

Anethum graveolens has 795 reported activities identified across 12 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antibacterial, Antioxidant, Analgesic, Anticancer, Cytotoxic.

Antibacterial

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology
3. Current topics in medicinal chemistry
4. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
5. Frontiers in microbiology

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke
2. PeerJ
3. Journal of ethnopharmacology
4. BMC complementary and alternative medicine
5. BioMed research international

Analgesic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology
3. American journal of therapeutics
4. The Malaysian journal of medical sciences : MJMS

Anticancer

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology
3. BioMed research international
4. Frontiers in microbiology

Cytotoxic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology
3. Molecular biology reports
4. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Antidepressant

1. Dr. Duke
2. American journal of therapeutics

Antiviral

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Carminative

1. Dr. Duke
2. Pharmacognosy reviews

Digestive

1. Dr. Duke
2. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Diuretic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Pharmacognosy reviews

Medicinal Uses

Anethum graveolens has 35 reported medicinal uses identified across 12 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include Escherichia coli, immunity, oxidative stress, Bacillus cereus, Candidiasis.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations