''Lomatium'' is a genus in the family Apiaceae. It consists of about 100 species native to western

Northern America Northern America is the northernmost subregion of North America. The boundaries may be drawn slightly differently. In one definition, it lies directly north of Middle America (including the Caribbean and Central America).Gonzalez, Joseph. 20 ...

and northern

Mexico Mexico (Spanish: México), officially the United Mexican States, is a country in the southern portion of North America. It is bordered to the north by the United States; to the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; to the southeast by Guatema ...

. Its common names include biscuitroot, Indian parsley, and desert parsley. It is in the family Apiaceae and therefore related to many familiar edible species such as carrots and celery; some ''Lomatium'' species are extensively used by Native Americans in the inland

Northwest The points of the compass are a set of horizontal, radially arrayed compass directions (or azimuths) used in navigation and cartography. A compass rose is primarily composed of four cardinal directions—north, east, south, and west—each sep ...

as a staple food.

Description

Roots range from woody taproots to more fleshy underground tuberous-thickened roots. Most lomatiums are desert species or grow on bluffs or mountain slopes where water is limited for most of the year. They are green and grow the most during the spring when water is available, and many species then set seed and dry out completely above ground before the hottest part of the year, while storing the energy they gained from photosynthesizing while water was available to them in their deep roots. For most of the year, the plant is not visible; the brown tops often are blown off or easily crushed, but it lies dormant underground for the next spring. The flowers are arranged in compound

umbel In botany, an umbel is an inflorescence that consists of a number of short flower stalks (called pedicels) that spread from a common point, somewhat like umbrella ribs. The word was coined in botanical usage in the 1590s, from Latin ''umbella'' "p ...

s, without involucral

bracts In botany, a bract is a modified or specialized leaf, especially one associated with a reproductive structure such as a flower, inflorescence axis or cone scale. Bracts are usually different from foliage leaves. They may be smaller, larger, or of ...

(or with inconspicuous bracts). The flowers are white or yellow, more rarely a purple or maroon color. As with most Apiaceae, the fruit sets the genus apart from other yellow- or white-flowered look-alikes such as ''Cymopterus'' and ''Orogenia''. Uniquely, they are dorsally flattened and winged, which can be papery or corky, but help the seed to disperse further on the wind. The dorsal ribs may or may not be on the fruit, but are narrowly winged if at all. Leaves are mainly basal and dissected (ternately, pinnately, or ternate-pinnately dissected or compound), many look like ferns or can be mistaken for them.

Taxonomy

The genus ''Lomatium'' was established by

Constantine Samuel Rafinesque Constantine Samuel Rafinesque-Schmaltz (; October 22, 1783September 18, 1840) was a French 19th-century polymath born near Constantinople in the Ottoman Empire and self-educated in France. He traveled as a young man in the United States, ultimat ...

in 1819. Kurt Sprengel published the name ''Cogswellia'' in 1920; this is regarded as an illegitimate name as it was superfluous.

Selected species

Plants of the World Online Plants of the World Online (POWO) is an online database published by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. It was launched in March 2017 with the ultimate aim being "to enable users to access information on all the world's known seed-bearing plants by ...

accepted the following species: *''

Lomatium ambiguum ''Lomatium ambiguum'', also known as Wyeth biscuitroot, is a perennial herb of the family Apiaceae that grows in the northwestern United States and into British Columbia in dry areas. The leaves are divided into many blades, and stems can be sli ...

'' (Nutt.) J.M.Coult. & Rose *''

Lomatium andrusianum ''Lomatium'' is a genus in the family Apiaceae. It consists of about 100 species native to western Northern America and northern Mexico. Its common names include biscuitroot, Indian parsley, and desert parsley. It is in the family Apiaceae and t ...

'' M.Stevens & Mansfield *''

Lomatium anomalum ''Lomatium'' is a genus in the family Apiaceae. It consists of about 100 species native to western Northern America and northern Mexico. Its common names include biscuitroot, Indian parsley, and desert parsley. It is in the family Apiaceae and t ...

'' M.E.Jones ex J.M.Coult. & Rose *''

Lomatium attenuatum ''Lomatium'' is a genus in the family Apiaceae. It consists of about 100 species native to western Northern America and northern Mexico. Its common names include biscuitroot, Indian parsley, and desert parsley. It is in the family Apiaceae and t ...

'' Evert *''

Lomatium austiniae ''Lomatium austiniae'' (Austin's desertparsley or Sonne's desert parsley) is a perennial plant in the carrot family (Apiaceae) occurring in a limited area of Nevada Nevada ( ; ) is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States, Western r ...

'' (J.M.Coult. & Rose) J.M.Coult. & Rose *''

Lomatium bentonitum ''Lomatium'' is a genus in the family Apiaceae. It consists of about 100 species native to western Northern America and northern Mexico. Its common names include biscuitroot, Indian parsley, and desert parsley. It is in the family Apiaceae and t ...

'' K.M.Carlson & Mansfield *''

Lomatium bicolor ''Lomatium bicolor'' (Wasatch desertparsley) is an herb of the family Apiaceae that occurs in two varieties, ''Lomatium bicolor'' var. ''leptocarpum'' and ''Lomatium bicolor'' var. ''bicolor''. It is 20–50 cm tall and the stems are split ...

'' (S.Watson) J.M.Coult. & Rose *''

Lomatium bradshawii ''Lomatium bradshawii'', also known as Bradshaw's desert parsley, is an endangered perennial herb native to Oregon and Washington (U.S. state), Washington, United States. ''Lomatium bradshawii'' was thought to be extinct until 1979, when it was r ...

'' (Rose) Mathias & Constance *''

Lomatium brandegeei ''Lomatium brandegeei'', also known as Brandegee's desert-parsley is a perennial herb of the family Apiaceae that grows in northern Washington and into British Columbia. Compound umbels with yellow flowers appear from May to June. It has a relati ...

'' (J.M.Coult. & Rose) J.F.Macbr. *''

Lomatium brunsfeldianum ''Lomatium'' is a genus in the family Apiaceae. It consists of about 100 species native to western Northern America and northern Mexico. Its common names include biscuitroot, Indian parsley, and desert parsley. It is in the family Apiaceae and t ...

'' Kemper & R.P.McNeill *''

Lomatium californicum ''Lomatium californicum'' is a species of plant related to the carrot and the parsnip which is known by the common names California rock parsnip, celery weed, and California lomatium. This plant is native to California and Oregon. It is found o ...

'' (Nutt.) Mathias & Constance *''

Lomatium canbyi ''Lomatium canbyi'' is a species of flowering plant in the carrot family known by the common name Canby's biscuitroot (lúukš in the Sahaptin language and qeqíit in the Nez Perce language). It is native to the Pacific Northwest of the United S ...

'' (J.M.Coult. & Rose) J.M.Coult. & Rose *''

Lomatium caruifolium ''Lomatium caruifolium'', known by the common name alkali desertparsley, is a species of flowering plant in the carrot family. Distribution The perennial herb is endemic to California, in the Central Valley and the foothills of the Inner Calif ...

'' (Hook. & Arn.) J.M.Coult. & Rose *''

Lomatium ciliolatum ''Lomatium ciliolatum'' is a species of flowering plant in the carrot family known by the common name Yolla Bolly biscuitroot. It is endemic to California, where it is known from the mountain ranges adjacent to the north and south of the San Fra ...

'' Jeps. *''

Lomatium columbianum ''Lomatium columbianum'' is a perennial herb of the family Apiaceae known by the common names purple leptotaenia and Columbia desert parsley. It is endemic to the U.S. states of Oregon and Washington, mostly along the Columbia River The Col ...

'' Mathias & Constance *''

Lomatium congdonii ''Lomatium congdonii'', known by the common names Mariposa desertparsley and Congdon's lomatium, is a species of flowering plant in the carrot family . Distribution ''Lomatium congdonii'' is endemic to California, where it is known from only ab ...

'' J.M.Coult. & Rose *''

Lomatium cookii ''Lomatium cookii'' is a rare species of flowering plant in the carrot family known by the common names Cook's lomatium and agate desertparsley. It is endemic to Oregon in the United States, where it grows in only two valleys. It is a federally ...

'' Kagan *''

Lomatium cous ''Lomatium cous'' (cous biscuitroot) is a perennial herb of the family Apiaceae. The root is prized as a food by the tribes of the southern plateau of the Pacific Northwest. Meriwether Lewis collected a specimen in 1806 while on his expedition.Sc ...

'' (S.Watson) J.M.Coult. & Rose *''

Lomatium cusickii ''Lomatium cusickii'' (Cusick's biscuitroot) is a perennial herb of the family Apiaceae. Its range is in the Northwestern United States The Northwestern United States, also known as the American Northwest or simply the Northwest, is an info ...

'' (S.Watson) J.M.Coult. & Rose *''

Lomatium cuspidatum ''Lomatium cuspidatum'' (Wenatchee desertparsley) is a perennial herb of the family Apiaceae, native to the U.S. state of Washington. It is found primarily on open rocky slopes in the Wenatchee Mountains, strongly associated with serpentine sc ...

'' Mathias & Constance *''

Lomatium dasycarpum ''Lomatium dasycarpum'' is a species of flowering plant in the carrot family known by the common name woollyfruit desertparsley. It is native to California and Baja California, where it is widespread throughout many of the mountain ranges, includ ...

'' (Torr. & A.Gray) J.M.Coult. & Rose *'' Lomatium depauperatum'' (M.E.Jones) J.A.Alexander & Whaley *''

Lomatium dissectum ''Lomatium dissectum'' is a species of flowering plant in the carrot family known by the common names fernleaf biscuitroot and fernleaf desert parsley. It is native to much of western North America, where it grows in varied habitat. It is found i ...

'' (Nutt.) Mathias & Constance *''

Lomatium donnellii ''Lomatium donnellii'' (Donnell's biscuitroot or glaucous desert parsley) is a perennial herb of the family Apiaceae, in the Western United States. Taxonomy ''Lomatium donnellii'' was first described in 1888 by John Merle Coulter and Joseph Nels ...

'' (J.M.Coult. & Rose) J.M.Coult. & Rose *''

Lomatium eastwoodiae ''Lomatium'' is a genus in the family Apiaceae. It consists of about 100 species native to western Northern America and northern Mexico. Its common names include biscuitroot, Indian parsley, and desert parsley. It is in the family Apiaceae and ...

'' (J.M.Coult. & Rose) J.F.Macbr. *''

Lomatium engelmannii ''Lomatium engelmannii'' is an uncommon species of flowering plant in the carrot family known by the common name Engelmann's desertparsley, or Engelmann's lomatium. It is native to the Klamath Mountains of southern Oregon and northern California ...

'' Mathias *''

Lomatium erythrocarpum ''Lomatium erythrocarpum'', known by the common name redfruit desertparsley, is a rare species of flowering plant in the carrot family. It is endemic to Oregon in the United States, where it is limited to a section of the Blue Mountains within ...

'' Meinke & Constance *'' Lomatium farinosum'' (Geyer) J.M.Coult. & Rose *''

Lomatium filicinum ''Lomatium'' is a genus in the family Apiaceae. It consists of about 100 species native to western Northern America and northern Mexico. Its common names include biscuitroot, Indian parsley, and desert parsley. It is in the family Apiaceae and ...

'' (M.E.Jones) Mansfield & M.Stevens *''

Lomatium foeniculaceum ''Lomatium foeniculaceum'' is a species of flowering plant in the carrot family known by the common name desert biscuitroot. It is native to much of western and central North America, where it grows in many types of habitat. Description ''Lomati ...

'' (Nutt.) J.M.Coult. & Rose *''

Lomatium fusiformis ''Lomatium fusiformis'', Synonym (taxonomy), synonym ''Orogenia fusiformis'', is a species of flowering plant in the Apiaceae, carrot family. It is known by the common name California Indian potato. It is native to the western United States from ...

'' (S.Watson) J.F.Sm. & Mansfield *''

Lomatium geyeri ''Lomatium geyeri'', or Geyer's biscuitroot, is a perennial herb in the family Apiaceae found in the Northwestern United States and British Columbia. References External linksUSDA Plants Profile for ''Lomatium geyeri''
Lomatium, geyer ...

'' (S.Watson) J.M.Coult. & Rose *''

Lomatium gormanii ''Lomatium gormanii'', with the common names Gorman's biscuitroot and salt & pepper, is a perennial herb of the family Apiaceae. It is endemic to the Northwestern United States, in Idaho, Oregon, and Washington, being found in steppes and monta ...

'' (Howell) J.M.Coult. & Rose *''

Lomatium graveolens ''Lomatium'' is a genus in the family Apiaceae. It consists of about 100 species native to western Northern America and northern Mexico. Its common names include biscuitroot, Indian parsley, and desert parsley. It is in the family Apiaceae and ...

'' (S.Watson) Dorn & R.L.Hartm. *''

Lomatium grayi ''Lomatium grayi'', commonly known as Gray's biscuitroot, Gray's desert parsley, or pungent desert parsley, is a perennial herb of the family Apiaceae. It is native to Western Canada in British Columbia, and the Western United States, including ...

'' (J.M.Coult. & Rose) J.M.Coult. & Rose *''

Lomatium greenmanii ''Lomatium greenmanii'' is a rare species of flowering plant in the Apiaceae, carrot family known by the common names Greenman's desertparsley and Greenman's biscuitroot. It is Endemism, endemic to Oregon in the United States, where it is found o ...

'' Mathias *''

Lomatium hallii ''Lomatium'' is a genus in the family Apiaceae. It consists of about 100 species native to western Northern America and northern Mexico. Its common names include biscuitroot, Indian parsley, and desert parsley. It is in the family Apiaceae and ...

'' (S.Watson) J.M.Coult. & Rose *'' Lomatium hendersonii'' (J.M.Coult. & Rose) J.M.Coult. & Rose *''

Lomatium hooveri ''Lomatium'' is a genus in the family Apiaceae. It consists of about 100 species native to western Northern America and northern Mexico. Its common names include biscuitroot, Indian parsley, and desert parsley. It is in the family Apiaceae and t ...

'' (Mathias & Constance) Constance & B.Ertter *''

Lomatium howellii ''Lomatium howellii'' is an uncommon species of flowering plant in the carrot family known by the common name Howell's biscuitroot, or Howell's lomatium. It is native to the Klamath Mountains of southern Oregon and northern California, where it ...

'' (S.Watson) Jeps. *''

Lomatium idahoense ''Lomatium'' is a genus in the family Apiaceae. It consists of about 100 species native to western Northern America and northern Mexico. Its common names include biscuitroot, Indian parsley, and desert parsley. It is in the family Apiaceae and ...

'' Mathias & Constance *''

Lomatium insulare ''Lomatium'' is a genus in the family Apiaceae. It consists of about 100 species native to western Northern America and northern Mexico. Its common names include biscuitroot, Indian parsley, and desert parsley. It is in the family Apiaceae and ...

'' (Eastw.) Munz *'' Lomatium junceum'' Barneby & N.H.Holmgren *''

Lomatium juniperinum ''Lomatium'' is a genus in the family Apiaceae. It consists of about 100 species native to western Northern America and northern Mexico. Its common names include biscuitroot, Indian parsley, and desert parsley. It is in the family Apiaceae and t ...

'' (M.E.Jones) J.M.Coult. & Rose *'' Lomatium klickitatense'' J.A.Alexander & Whaley *''

Lomatium knokei ''Lomatium'' is a genus in the family Apiaceae. It consists of about 100 species native to western Northern America and northern Mexico. Its common names include biscuitroot, Indian parsley, and desert parsley. It is in the family Apiaceae and ...

'' Darrach *''

Lomatium kogholiini ''Lomatium'' is a genus in the family Apiaceae. It consists of about 100 species native to western Northern America and northern Mexico. Its common names include biscuitroot, Indian parsley, and desert parsley. It is in the family Apiaceae and t ...

'' K.M.Mason & Willie *''

Lomatium laevigatum ''Lomatium laevigatum'', commonly known as slickrock biscuitroot, is a perennial herb In general use, herbs are a widely distributed and widespread group of plants, excluding vegetables and other plants consumed for macronutrients, with savor ...

'' J.M.Coult. & Rose *''

Lomatium latilobum ''Lomatium latilobum'' is a species of flowering plant in the carrot family known by the common names Canyonlands lomatium and Canyonlands biscuitroot. It is native to an area straddling the border between Utah and Colorado in the United States, ...

'' (Rydb.) Mathias *'' Lomatium linearifolium'' (S.Watson) J.F.Sm. & Mansfield *'' Lomatium lithosolamans'' J.F.Sm. & M.A.Feist *'' Lomatium lucidum'' (Nutt.) Jeps. *''

Lomatium macrocarpum ''Lomatium macrocarpum'' is a perennial flowering plant in the carrot family known by the common names bigseed lomatium, biscuit root or bigseed biscuitroot. It is native to much of western North America, where it can be found in various types ...

'' (Hook. & Arn.) J.M.Coult. & Rose *''

Lomatium marginatum ''Lomatium marginatum'' is a species of flowering plant in the carrot family known by the common name butte desertparsley. It is endemic to California, where it is known from mountains, valley, and grassland habitat, including serpentine, in th ...

'' (Benth.) J.M.Coult. & Rose *''

Lomatium martindalei ''Lomatium martindalei'' is a species of flowering plant in the carrot family known by the common names Cascade desertparsley and coast range lomatium, native to western North America. Range ''Lomatium martindalei'' is native to the west coast ...

'' (J.M.Coult. & Rose) J.M.Coult. & Rose *''

Lomatium minimum ''Lomatium'' is a genus in the family Apiaceae. It consists of about 100 species native to western Northern America and northern Mexico. Its common names include biscuitroot, Indian parsley, and desert parsley. It is in the family Apiaceae and ...

'' (Mathias) Mathias *''

Lomatium minus ''Lomatium'' is a genus in the family Apiaceae. It consists of about 100 species native to western Northern America and northern Mexico. Its common names include biscuitroot, Indian parsley, and desert parsley. It is in the family Apiaceae and t ...

'' (Rose ex Howell) Mathias & Constance *'' Lomatium mohavense'' (J.M.Coult. & Rose) J.M.Coult. & Rose *''

Lomatium multifidum ''Lomatium'' is a genus in the family Apiaceae. It consists of about 100 species native to western Northern America and northern Mexico. Its common names include biscuitroot, Indian parsley, and desert parsley. It is in the family Apiaceae and ...

'' (Nutt.) R.P.McNeill & Darrach *''

Lomatium nevadense ''Lomatium nevadense'' is a species of flowering plant in the carrot family known by the common name Nevada biscuitroot. It is native to the western United States and northern Mexico, where it is known from several different habitat types, inclu ...

'' (S.Watson) J.M.Coult. & Rose *''

Lomatium nudicaule ''Lomatium nudicaule'' is a species of flowering plant in the Apiaceae, carrot family known by the common names pestle lomatium,Great Basin Wildflowers, Laird R. Blackwell, 2006, Morris Book Publishing LLC., barestem biscuitroot, Indian celery a ...

'' (Nutt.) J.M.Coult. & Rose *''

Lomatium nuttallii ''Lomatium'' is a genus in the family Apiaceae. It consists of about 100 species native to western Northern America and northern Mexico. Its common names include biscuitroot, Indian parsley, and desert parsley. It is in the family Apiaceae and ...

'' (A.Gray) J.F.Macbr. *''

Lomatium observatorium ''Lomatium observatorium'' is a rare species of flowering plant in the carrot family known by the common names Mt. Hamilton desertparsley and Mount Hamilton lomatium. It is endemic to California, where it is known only from the mountains of Sant ...

'' Constance & B.Ertter *''

Lomatium ochocense ''Lomatium ochocense'' is a rare species of flowering plant in the carrot family known by the common name Ochoco lomatium. It is endemic to Oregon, where it is limited to the Ochoco Mountains of Crook County. This plant was discovered in 1994 ...

'' Helliwell & Constance *''

Lomatium oreganum ''Lomatium'' is a genus in the family Apiaceae. It consists of about 100 species native to western Northern America and northern Mexico. Its common names include biscuitroot, Indian parsley, and desert parsley. It is in the family Apiaceae and ...

'' (J.M.Coult. & Rose) J.M.Coult. & Rose *''

Lomatium orientale ''Lomatium'' is a genus in the family Apiaceae. It consists of about 100 species native to western Northern America and northern Mexico. Its common names include biscuitroot, Indian parsley, and desert parsley. It is in the family Apiaceae and ...

'' J.M.Coult. & Rose *'' Lomatium papilioniferum'' J.A.Alexander & Whaley *'' Lomatium parryi'' (S.Watson) J.F.Macbr. *''

Lomatium parvifolium ''Lomatium parvifolium'' is an uncommon species of flowering plant in the carrot family known by the common names coastal biscuitroot and small-leaved lomatium. It is endemic to California, where it is known only from the Central Coast and cent ...

'' (Hook. & Arn.) Jeps. *''

Lomatium pastorale ''Lomatium'' is a genus in the family Apiaceae. It consists of about 100 species native to western Northern America and northern Mexico. Its common names include biscuitroot, Indian parsley, and desert parsley. It is in the family Apiaceae and ...

'' Darrach & D.H.Wagner *''

Lomatium peckianum ''Lomatium'' is a genus in the family Apiaceae. It consists of about 100 species native to western Northern America and northern Mexico. Its common names include biscuitroot, Indian parsley, and desert parsley. It is in the family Apiaceae and ...

'' Mathias & Constance *''

Lomatium piperi ''Lomatium piperi'' is a species of flowering plant in the carrot family known by the common name salt-and-pepper or Indian biscuitroot (and called mámɨn in the local Sahaptin language). It is native to the Northwestern United States and north ...

'' J.M.Coult. & Rose *''

Lomatium planosum ''Lomatium'' is a genus in the family Apiaceae. It consists of about 100 species native to western Northern America and northern Mexico. Its common names include biscuitroot, Indian parsley, and desert parsley. It is in the family Apiaceae and ...

'' (Osterh.) Mansfield & S.R.Downie *''

Lomatium quintuplex ''Lomatium'' is a genus in the family Apiaceae. It consists of about 100 species native to western Northern America and northern Mexico. Its common names include biscuitroot, Indian parsley, and desert parsley. It is in the family Apiaceae and ...

'' Schlessman & Constance *''

Lomatium ravenii ''Lomatium ravenii'' is a species of flowering plant in the carrot family known by the common names Lassen parsley and Raven's lomatium. It is native to the Great Basin of the United States, where it grows in sagebrush and other plateau habitat ...

'' Mathias & Constance *'' Lomatium repostum'' (Jeps.) Mathias *''

Lomatium rigidum ''Lomatium rigidum'' is a species of flowering plant in the carrot family known by the common names Big Pine biscuitroot and stiff lomatium. It is endemic to Inyo County, California, where it is known only from the wilderness around the Big Pin ...

'' (M.E.Jones) Jeps. *'' Lomatium rollinsii'' Mathias & Constance *''

Lomatium roneorum ''Lomatium roneorum'', Rone's desert-parsley or Rone's biscuit-root, is a species of ''Lomatium ''Lomatium'' is a genus in the family Apiaceae. It consists of about 100 species native to western Northern America and northern Mexico. Its common ...

'' Darrach *''

Lomatium roseanum ''Lomatium roseanum'', adobe parsley, also known as adobe lomatium and rose-flowered desert-parsley, is a very rare plant of the Western U.S., known only from northwestern Nevada and southeastern Oregon, and which may also occur in northeastern C ...

'' Cronquist *''

Lomatium salmoniflorum ''Lomatium salmoniflorum'' (salmonflower biscuitroot) is a perennial herb native to the northwest United States. In February and March one to nineteen umbels bloom, each with up to 300 flowers. Each flower is either strictly staminate or hermaph ...

'' (J.M.Coult. & Rose) Mathias & Constance *'' Lomatium sandbergii'' (J.M.Coult. & Rose) J.M.Coult. & Rose *''

Lomatium scabrum ''Lomatium'' is a genus in the family Apiaceae. It consists of about 100 species native to western Northern America and northern Mexico. Its common names include biscuitroot, Indian parsley, and desert parsley. It is in the family Apiaceae and ...

'' (J.M.Coult. & Rose) Mathias *''

Lomatium serpentinum ''Lomatium'' is a genus in the family Apiaceae. It consists of about 100 species native to western Northern America and northern Mexico. Its common names include biscuitroot, Indian parsley, and desert parsley. It is in the family Apiaceae and ...

'' (M.E.Jones) Mathias *''

Lomatium shevockii ''Lomatium shevockii'' is a rare species of flowering plant in the carrot family known by the common name Owens Peak desertparsley, or Owens Peak lomatium. It is endemic to Kern County, California, where it is known from only two occurrences at ...

'' R.L.Hartm. & Constance *''

Lomatium simplex ''Lomatium'' is a genus in the family Apiaceae. It consists of about 100 species native to western Northern America and northern Mexico. Its common names include biscuitroot, Indian parsley, and desert parsley. It is in the family Apiaceae and ...

'' (Nutt. ex S.Watson) J.F.Macbr. *'' Lomatium stebbinsii'' Schlessman & Constance *'' Lomatium suksdorfii'' (S.Watson) J.M.Coult. & Rose *''

Lomatium swingerae ''Lomatium'' is a genus in the family Apiaceae. It consists of about 100 species native to western Northern America and northern Mexico. Its common names include biscuitroot, Indian parsley, and desert parsley. It is in the family Apiaceae and ...

'' R.P.McNeill *''

Lomatium tamanitchii ''Lomatium'' is a genus in the family Apiaceae. It consists of about 100 species native to western Northern America and northern Mexico. Its common names include biscuitroot, Indian parsley, and desert parsley. It is in the family Apiaceae and ...

'' Darrach & Thie *'' Lomatium tarantuloides'' Darrach & Hinchliff *''

Lomatium tenuissimum ''Lomatium'' is a genus in the family Apiaceae. It consists of about 100 species native to western Northern America and northern Mexico. Its common names include biscuitroot, Indian parsley, and desert parsley. It is in the family Apiaceae and ...

'' (Geyer ex Hook.) M.A.Feist & G.M.Plunkett *''

Lomatium thompsonii ''Lomatium thompsonii'', commonly known as Thompson's desertparsley, is a perennial herb of the family Apiaceae endemic to Chelan and Kittitas County in Washington, United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly k ...

'' (Mathias) Cronquist *''

Lomatium torreyi ''Lomatium torreyi'' is a species of flowering plant in the carrot family known by the common name Sierra biscuitroot. It is endemic to the Sierra Nevada of California, where it grows in the forests of the high mountains. Description ''Lomatium ...

'' (J.M.Coult. & Rose) J.M.Coult. & Rose *'' Lomatium tracyi'' Mathias & Constance *''

Lomatium triternatum ''Lomatium triternatum'' is a species of flowering plant in the carrot family known by the common name nineleaf biscuitroot. It is native to western North America from British Columbia to California to Colorado, where it grows in many types of h ...

'' (Pursh) J.M.Coult. & Rose *''

Lomatium tuberosum ''Lomatium'' is a genus in the family Apiaceae. It consists of about 100 species native to western Northern America and northern Mexico. Its common names include biscuitroot, Indian parsley, and desert parsley. It is in the family Apiaceae and ...

'' Hoover *''

Lomatium utriculatum ''Lomatium utriculatum'' is a species of flowering plant in the carrot family known by the common name common lomatium or spring gold. It is native to western North America from British Columbia to California, where it grows in many types of hab ...

'' (Nutt.) J.M.Coult. & Rose *'' Lomatium vaginatum'' J.M.Coult. & Rose *''

Lomatium watsonii ''Lomatium'' is a genus in the family Apiaceae. It consists of about 100 species native to western Northern America and northern Mexico. Its common names include biscuitroot, Indian parsley, and desert parsley. It is in the family Apiaceae and t ...

'' (J.M.Coult. & Rose) J.M.Coult. & Rose

Ecology

It grows in a variety of habitats throughout western North America, from coastal bluffs to piles of basalt rock.

Conservation concerns

Many species' habitats are under threat by grazing, development, and wildfires. Also, some concern exists about particular species such as ''L. dissectum'', which is mainly harvested from the wild for herbal uses. Because the genus is so difficult to identify, but has great genetic diversity, new species are still being found today such as ''L. tarantuloides'',. Many species often have a very limited geographical range, with the plants being few in number.

Cultivation and uses

Several species, including '' L. cous'', '' L. geyeri'', and '' L. macrocarpum'', are sometimes known as biscuit roots for their

starch Starch or amylum is a polymeric carbohydrate consisting of numerous glucose units joined by glycosidic bonds. This polysaccharide is produced by most green plants for energy storage. Worldwide, it is the most common carbohydrate in human diets ...

edible root Root vegetables are underground plant parts eaten by humans as food. Although botany distinguishes true roots (such as taproots and tuberous roots) from non-roots (such as bulbs, corms, rhizomes, and tubers, although some contain both hypocotyl a ...

s. These are or have been traditional

Native American food Indigenous cuisine of the Americas includes all cuisines and food practices of the Indigenous peoples of the Americas. Contemporary Native peoples retain a varied culture of traditional foods, along with the addition of some post-contact foods ...

s, eaten cooked or dried and ground into

flour Flour is a powder made by grinding raw grains, roots, beans, nuts, or seeds. Flours are used to make many different foods. Cereal flour, particularly wheat flour, is the main ingredient of bread, which is a staple food for many culture ...

. Some Native Americans ground ''Lomatium'' into mush and shaped it into cakes and stored them for later use. Their flavor has been compared to

celery Celery (''Apium graveolens'') is a marshland plant in the family Apiaceae that has been cultivated as a vegetable since antiquity. Celery has a long fibrous stalk tapering into leaves. Depending on location and cultivar, either its stalks, lea ...

, parsnip, or stale

biscuit A biscuit is a flour-based baked and shaped food product. In most countries biscuits are typically hard, flat, and unleavened. They are usually sweet and may be made with sugar, chocolate, icing, jam, ginger, or cinnamon. They can also be ...

References

External links

* *
USDA Plants Profile

UVSC Herbarium - Lomatium

Food uses at Plants for a Future
{{Taxonbar, from=Q9023584 Apiaceae genera Flora of North America Edible Apiaceae Root vegetables Medicinal plants of North America Taxa named by Constantine Samuel Rafinesque