''Lomatium'' is a genus in the family

Apiaceae Apiaceae () or Umbelliferae is a family of mostly aromatic flowering plants named after the type genus ''Apium,'' and commonly known as the celery, carrot, or parsley family, or simply as umbellifers. It is the 16th-largest family of flowering p ...

. It consists of about 100 species. Its common names include biscuitroot, Indian parsley, and desert parsley. It is in the family

and therefore related to many familiar edible species such as

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

s and

celery Celery (''Apium graveolens'' Dulce Group or ''Apium graveolens'' var. ''dulce'') is a cultivated plant belonging to the species ''Apium graveolens'' in the family Apiaceae that has been used as a vegetable since ancient times. The original wild ...

. Native to western

Northern America Northern America is the northernmost subregion of North America, as well as the northernmost region in the Americas. The boundaries may be drawn significantly differently depending on the source of the definition. In one definition, it lies dir ...

and northern

Mexico Mexico, officially the United Mexican States, is a country in North America. It is the northernmost country in Latin America, and borders the United States to the north, and Guatemala and Belize to the southeast; while having maritime boundar ...

, some ''Lomatium'' species are extensively used by Native Americans in the inland

Pacific Northwest The Pacific Northwest (PNW; ) is a geographic region in Western North America bounded by its coastal waters of the Pacific Ocean to the west and, loosely, by the Rocky Mountains to the east. Though no official boundary exists, the most common ...

as a staple food.

Description

''Lomatium'' roots range from woody

taproot A taproot is a large, central, and dominant root from which other roots sprout laterally. Typically a taproot is somewhat straight and very thick, is tapering in shape, and grows directly downward. In some plants, such as the carrot, the taproot ...

s to more fleshy underground

tuber Tubers are a type of enlarged structure that plants use as storage organs for nutrients, derived from stems or roots. Tubers help plants perennate (survive winter or dry months), provide energy and nutrients, and are a means of asexual reproduc ...

ous-thickened roots. The plants 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

leaves A leaf (: leaves) is a principal appendage of the stem of a vascular plant, usually borne laterally above ground and specialized for photosynthesis. Leaves are collectively called foliage, as in "autumn foliage", while the leaves, stem, ...

are mainly basal and dissected (ternately, pinnately, or ternate-pinnately dissected or compound), many look like ferns or can be mistaken for them. The flowers are arranged in compound

umbel UMBEL (Upper Mapping and Binding Exchange Layer) is a logically organized knowledge graph of 34,000 concepts and entity types that can be used in information science for relating information from disparate sources to one another. It was retired ...

s, without involucral

bracts In botany, a bract is a modified or specialized leaf, associated with a reproductive structure such as a flower, inflorescence axis or cone scale. Bracts are usually different from foliage leaves in size, color, shape or texture. They also loo ...

(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''. 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.

Taxonomy

The genus ''Lomatium'' was established by

Constantine Samuel Rafinesque Constantine Samuel Rafinesque-Schmaltz (; 22 October 178318 September 1840) was a French early 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, ult ...

in 1819.

Kurt Sprengel Kurt Polycarp Joachim Sprengel (3 August 1766 – 15 March 1833) was a German botanist and physician who published an influential multivolume history of medicine, ''Versuch einer pragmatischen Geschichte der Arzneikunde'' (1792–99 in four vol ...

published the name ''Cogswellia'' in 1920; this is regarded as an

illegitimate name ''Nomen illegitimum'' (Latin for illegitimate name) is a technical term used mainly in botany. It is usually abbreviated as ''nom. illeg.'' Although the International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants uses Latin terms as qualif ...

as it was superfluous.

Selected species

Plants of the World Online Plants of the World Online (POWO) is an online taxonomic database published by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. History Following the Convention on Biological Diversity, the Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew launched Plants of the World Online i ...

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 slig ...

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

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

'' M.Stevens & Mansfield *''

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

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

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

'' Evert *'' Lomatium austiniae'' (J.M.Coult. & Rose) J.M.Coult. & Rose *''

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

'' 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 a perennial herb, native to Oregon and Washington. ''Lomatium bradshawii'' was thought to be extinct until 1979, when it was rediscovered by a University of Oregon graduate.L ...

'' (Rose) Mathias & Constance *''

Lomatium brandegeei ''Lomatium brandegeei'', also known as Brandegee's desert-parsley is a perennial herb of the family Apiaceae that is found in the mountains of Washington and southern British Columbia. Description ''Lomatium brandegeei'' produces compound umbe ...

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

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

'' 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'' (Hook. & Arn.) J.M.Coult. & Rose *'' Lomatium ciliolatum'' Jeps. *'' Lomatium columbianum'' Mathias & Constance *'' Lomatium congdonii'' J.M.Coult. & Rose *'' Lomatium cookii'' Kagan *'' Lomatium cous'' (S.Watson) J.M.Coult. & Rose *'' Lomatium cusickii'' (S.Watson) J.M.Coult. & Rose *'' Lomatium cuspidatum'' Mathias & Constance *'' Lomatium dasycarpum'' (Torr. & A.Gray) J.M.Coult. & Rose *'' Lomatium depauperatum'' (M.E.Jones) J.A.Alexander & Whaley *'' Lomatium dissectum'' (Nutt.) Mathias & Constance *'' Lomatium donnellii'' (J.M.Coult. & Rose) J.M.Coult. & Rose *'' Lomatium eastwoodiae'' (J.M.Coult. & Rose) J.F.Macbr. *'' Lomatium engelmannii'' Mathias *'' Lomatium erythrocarpum'' Meinke & Constance *'' Lomatium farinosum'' (Geyer) J.M.Coult. & Rose *'' Lomatium filicinum'' (M.E.Jones) Mansfield & M.Stevens *'' Lomatium foeniculaceum'' (Nutt.) J.M.Coult. & Rose *'' Lomatium fusiformis'' (S.Watson) J.F.Sm. & Mansfield *'' Lomatium geyeri'' (S.Watson) J.M.Coult. & Rose *'' Lomatium gormanii'' (Howell) J.M.Coult. & Rose *'' Lomatium graveolens'' (S.Watson) Dorn & R.L.Hartm. *'' Lomatium grayi'' (J.M.Coult. & Rose) J.M.Coult. & Rose *'' Lomatium greenmanii'' Mathias *'' Lomatium hallii'' (S.Watson) J.M.Coult. & Rose *'' Lomatium hendersonii'' (J.M.Coult. & Rose) J.M.Coult. & Rose *'' Lomatium hooveri'' (Mathias & Constance) Constance & B.Ertter *'' Lomatium howellii'' (S.Watson) Jeps. *'' Lomatium idahoense'' Mathias & Constance *'' Lomatium insulare'' (Eastw.) Munz *'' Lomatium junceum'' Barneby & N.H.Holmgren *'' Lomatium juniperinum'' (M.E.Jones) J.M.Coult. & Rose *'' Lomatium klickitatense'' J.A.Alexander & Whaley *'' Lomatium knokei'' Darrach *'' Lomatium kogholiini'' K.M.Mason & Willie *''

Lomatium laevigatum ''Lomatium laevigatum'', commonly known as slickrock biscuitroot, is a perennial herb of the Apiaceae Apiaceae () or Umbelliferae is a family of mostly aromatic flowering plants named after the type genus ''Apium,'' and commonly known as the ...

'' J.M.Coult. & Rose *'' Lomatium latilobum'' (Rydb.) Mathias *'' Lomatium linearifolium'' (S.Watson) J.F.Sm. & Mansfield *'' Lomatium lithosolamans'' J.F.Sm. & M.A.Feist *'' Lomatium lucidum'' (Nutt.) Jeps. *'' Lomatium macrocarpum'' (Hook. & Arn.) J.M.Coult. & Rose *'' Lomatium marginatum'' (Benth.) J.M.Coult. & Rose *'' Lomatium martindalei'' (J.M.Coult. & Rose) J.M.Coult. & Rose *'' Lomatium minimum'' (Mathias) Mathias *'' Lomatium minus'' (Rose ex Howell) Mathias & Constance *'' Lomatium mohavense'' (J.M.Coult. & Rose) J.M.Coult. & Rose *'' Lomatium multifidum'' (Nutt.) R.P.McNeill & Darrach *'' Lomatium nevadense'' (S.Watson) J.M.Coult. & Rose *''

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

'' (Nutt.) J.M.Coult. & Rose *'' Lomatium nuttallii'' (A.Gray) J.F.Macbr. *'' Lomatium observatorium'' Constance & B.Ertter *'' Lomatium ochocense'' Helliwell & Constance *'' Lomatium oreganum'' (J.M.Coult. & Rose) J.M.Coult. & Rose *'' Lomatium orientale'' J.M.Coult. & Rose *'' Lomatium papilioniferum'' J.A.Alexander & Whaley *'' Lomatium parryi'' (S.Watson) J.F.Macbr. *'' Lomatium parvifolium'' (Hook. & Arn.) Jeps. *'' Lomatium pastorale'' Darrach & D.H.Wagner *'' Lomatium peckianum'' Mathias & Constance *'' Lomatium piperi'' J.M.Coult. & Rose *'' Lomatium planosum'' (Osterh.) Mansfield & S.R.Downie *'' Lomatium quintuplex'' Schlessman & Constance *'' Lomatium ravenii'' Mathias & Constance *'' Lomatium repostum'' (Jeps.) Mathias *'' Lomatium rigidum'' (M.E.Jones) Jeps. *'' Lomatium rollinsii'' Mathias & Constance *'' Lomatium roneorum'' Darrach *'' Lomatium roseanum'' Cronquist *'' Lomatium salmoniflorum'' (J.M.Coult. & Rose) Mathias & Constance *'' Lomatium sandbergii'' (J.M.Coult. & Rose) J.M.Coult. & Rose *'' Lomatium scabrum'' (J.M.Coult. & Rose) Mathias *'' Lomatium serpentinum'' (M.E.Jones) Mathias *'' Lomatium shevockii'' R.L.Hartm. & Constance *'' Lomatium simplex'' (Nutt. ex S.Watson) J.F.Macbr. *'' Lomatium stebbinsii'' Schlessman & Constance *'' Lomatium suksdorfii'' (S.Watson) J.M.Coult. & Rose *'' Lomatium swingerae'' R.P.McNeill *'' Lomatium tamanitchii'' Darrach & Thie *'' Lomatium tarantuloides'' Darrach & Hinchliff *'' Lomatium tenuissimum'' (Geyer ex Hook.) M.A.Feist & G.M.Plunkett *'' Lomatium thompsonii'' (Mathias) Cronquist *'' Lomatium torreyi'' (J.M.Coult. & Rose) J.M.Coult. & Rose *'' Lomatium tracyi'' Mathias & Constance *'' Lomatium triternatum'' (Pursh) J.M.Coult. & Rose *'' Lomatium tuberosum'' 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'' (J.M.Coult. & Rose) J.M.Coult. & Rose

Distribution and habitat

The species is native to western

and northern

. Most lomatiums are desert species or grow on bluffs or mountain slopes where water is limited for most of the year.

Ecology

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

Conservation

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.

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 diet ...

y edible roots. These are or have been traditional Native American foods, eaten cooked or dried and ground into

flour Flour is a powder made by Mill (grinding), grinding raw grains, List of root vegetables, roots, beans, Nut (fruit), nuts, or seeds. Flours are used to make many different foods. Cereal flour, particularly wheat flour, is the main ingredie ...

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

parsnip The parsnip (''Pastinaca sativa'') is a root vegetable closely related to carrot and parsley, all belonging to the flowering plant family Apiaceae. It is a biennial plant usually grown as an annual. Its long taproot has cream-colored skin an ...

, or stale

biscuit A biscuit is a flour-based baked food item. 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 savoury, similar to crackers. ...

s. ''Lomatium'' continues to be harvested and eaten by Indigenous people, including members of the

Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation The Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation are the federally recognized confederations of three Sahaptin-speaking Native Americans of the United States, Native American tribes who traditionally inhabited the Columbia River Plate ...

, the Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs, and the

Yakama Nation The Yakama Indian Reservation (spelled Yakima until 1994) is a Native American reservation in Washington state of the federally recognized tribe known as the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation. The tribe is made up of Klikitat ...

References

External links

* *
USDA Plants Profile

UVSC Herbarium - Lomatium

Food uses at Plants for a Future
{{Authority control Apioideae genera Flora of Northern America Edible Apiaceae Root vegetables Medicinal plants of North America Taxa named by Constantine Samuel Rafinesque