''Sanicula bipinnata'' is a species of plant in the family Apiaceae known by the

common name In biology, a common name of a taxon or organism (also known as a vernacular name, English name, colloquial name, country name, popular name, or farmer's name) is a name that is based on the normal language of everyday life; and is often contrast ...

poison sanicle. It is endemic to California where it is found in low-elevation mountains and foothills, especially in the hills along the coast. It occurs in the California Coastal Range and

Sierra Nevada The Sierra Nevada () is a mountain range in the Western United States, between the Central Valley of California and the Great Basin. The vast majority of the range lies in the state of California, although the Carson Range spur lies primarily ...

foothills, including Ring Mountain, California.

Description

It is recognizable as a relative of the

carrot The carrot ('' Daucus carota'' subsp. ''sativus'') is a root vegetable, typically orange in color, though purple, black, red, white, and yellow cultivars exist, all of which are domesticated forms of the wild carrot, ''Daucus carota'', nat ...

s and parsnips with its thin stalk topped with small umbels of yellow or cream flowers. The origin of its

poison Poison is a chemical substance that has a detrimental effect to life. The term is used in a wide range of scientific fields and industries, where it is often specifically defined. It may also be applied colloquially or figuratively, with a broa ...

ous reputation is unknown. Yet despite the name, there are no current records of its toxicity in humans, though it or a related species might be toxic to horses or other stock animals. It was called ' by the Miwok and used to treat venomous bites from snakes, perhaps providing a reason for the common name in English. Though they used other sanicles in the same manner. The Karuk called the plant ' and traditionally ate the young leaves as a green, indicating the toxic reputation is undeserved.

References

External links

Calflora Database: ''Sanicula bipinnata'' (Poison sanicle)

Jepson Manual eFlora (TJM2) treatment of ''Sanicula bipinnata''USDA Plants Profile for ''Sanicula bipinnata'' (poison sanicle) U.C. Photos gallery of ''Sanicula bipinnata'' (poison sanicle) images
* bipinnata Endemic flora of California Flora of the Sierra Nevada (United States) Natural history of the California chaparral and woodlands Natural history of the California Coast Ranges Natural history of the Peninsular Ranges Natural history of the Santa Monica Mountains Natural history of the Transverse Ranges Flora without expected TNC conservation status {{Apiaceae-stub