n. [ NL. See Umbelliferous. ] (Bot.) A plant producing an umbel or umbels. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Chem.) A tasteless white crystalline substance, C9H6O3, found in the bark of a certain plant (Daphne Mezereum), and also obtained by the distillation of certain gums from the Umbelliferae, as galbanum, asafetida, etc. It is analogous to coumarin. Called also hydroxy-coumarin. Its strong fluorescence under ultraviolet light makes it useful in analytical biochemistry, as, for example, to detect phosphatase activity by hydrolysis of umbelliferyl phosphate. [ 1913 Webster +PJC ]

a. [ Umbel + -ferous: cf. F. ombellifère. ] (Bot.) (a) Producing umbels. (b) Of or pertaining to a natural order (Umbelliferae) of plants, of which the parsley, carrot, parsnip, and fennel are well-known examples. [ 1913 Webster ]