Most comprehensive site is Plantfiles. If you google a vegetable by cultivar name it will usually come up.

Here is a link that might be useful: Example

Parsnip seeds do look like the image I saw of a "cow" parsnip (no idea what that is!). I found one link to a commercial seed site that has some seed images(including swiss chard). If you click on the pictures, you will see larger versions. I've included the link below.

If, after looking at the site, you still can not find a certain type of seed, let me know. I have just about everything and a macro lens on my camera.

Bellatrix

Here is a link that might be useful: Pictures of seeds

Thanks everyone for the links. And thanks Bellatrix for the offer of pictures. It does help to know what something looks like when planning a garden.
Clare

try this site... i like it:

http://www.jungseed.com/

tika_grower - Thanks also for that link. I will check it out.
Clare

If you or a friend has a Johnny's Selected Seeds catalog, look in there. It has great growing information including a "germination guide" for most veggies. It graphs the optimum temps for germination and shows a seed photo for MANY veggies....not parsnips, though. I haven't seen this information on their website. You may want to request a catalog just for the growing info and germination guides.

A google image search gave this parsnip seed image...just page down a bit in the blog. (see below)

Parsnips are outbreeding plants that are insect pollinated. They can cross with other parsnip varieties and with wild parsnips that grow in many areas. Some parsnip seeds are sold that are F1 hybrids. Yours will not produce true to type if they were a hybrid variety or if they crossed with wild parnips in the area. They may or may not produce something that is acceptable to you. Me, well, I'd probably grow them out if I had space. Maybe plant some known seed, also, if great parsnips were important to me.

The book Seed to Seed by Suzanne Ashworth is great to look at if you are saving seeds. I borrowed one a few time from the library and just last week received my own copy as a gift :)

Here is a link that might be useful: Parsnip seeds, scroll down