Apiaceae (Umbelliferae) (Parsley Family)

Flowers are fine, usually in umbels with branches of the inflorescence spreading umbrella-like, but some individuals congested in heads. The main stems are commonly hollow and the leaves much divided. The dry fruit separates into two flattish parts when mature, these usually ribbed and/or winged. This family contains many food plants such as parsley, carrots, and parsnips, and some indigenous species were commonly used by the native peoples. Several species are deadly poisonous, however, so no native plant should be even tasted.

Angelica linearilobaGray. Tall Angelica, Sierra Soda-straw. (Plate 6.2) A stout perennial 2–5 ft (6–15 dm) tall. Leaves are 4–14 in (1–1.5 cm) in length with long, linear segments. Flowers are in large, rounded umbels, 4–6 in across. Flower : Whitish.

Distribution. Rare; moist places, streamsides or roadsides; Pinyon-juniper Woodland, White Mountains, 7,500–9,500 ft (2,287–2,896 m).

Figure 6.1
A Guide to plant part designations.

Figure 6.1
A guide to plant part designations ( continued ).

Cymopterus aboriginumJones. White Cymopterus, Indian Parsley. (Plate 6.3) A stemless perennial from a rootstock covered with the persistent bases of old leaf stems. Leaf blades 1–4 in (2.5–10 cm) long, naked, with 3 to 10 spreading rays. Fruit winged on all sides. Flower: White.

Distribution. Rocky places, especially on dolomite; Desert Scrub and Pinyon-juniper Woodland, 5,500–9,000 ft (1,677–2,744 m).

Lomatium foeniculaceum(Nutt.) Coult. & Rose. ssp.inyoense(Mathias & Constance)Theobald. Inyo Mountain Parsley.(Lomatium inyoense) (Plate 6.4) A very small, stemless perennial with leaf blades tufted at ground level, their stems below the surface. The blades are 1/2–1 in (13–25 mm) long, finely divided, grayish, some purple-tinged. Flowering stems are mostly 1 1/2–3 in (4–8 cm) long, naked, commonly turned to one side rather than erect, usually with only one ray developed. Fruit is narrowly winged on the edges. This is the smallest parsley in the range. Flower: Whitish to pale yellow.

Distribution. Mostly in the Bristlecone Pine Forest in the Inyo Mountains, but there are some occurrences in the White Mountains; Subalpine Zone, 9,400–11,000 ft (2,866–3,354 m).

Ssp.fimbriatumTheobald. White Mountain Parsley. (Lomatium macdougallii Coult. & Rose) Much like ssp. inyoense but a larger, sturdier plant with less of the stems underground. Rays of the inflorescence are longer, and 2 to 14 are well developed. Flower: Pale yellow.

Distribution. Rocky slopes and flats; mostly in the White Mountains; Desert Scrub to Subalpine Zone, 5,700–10,500 ft (1,738–3,201 m).

Lomatium mohavense(Coult. & Rose) Coult. & Rose. Mojave Parsley. (Plate 6.5) A grayish perennial with much the same growth habit as L. foeniculaceum but much larger and coarser. Leaf blades are triangular in outline, mostly 1 1/2–2 1/2 in (4–6.4 cm) long and much divided, on stems about the same length. Flowering stems are 4–12 in (1–3 cm) tall, with rounded umbels 3–4 in broad. Mature fruit is roundish, pale-veined, and narrowly winged on the edges. Flower: Yellow, purple, or deep maroon.

Distribution. Dry slopes; Desert Scrub to Pinyon-juniper Woodland, up to 8,500 ft (2,591 m).

Pteryxia petraea(Jones) Coult. & Rose. Rock Pteryxia. A perennial from a deep root, the slender stems 6–16 in (1.5–4 dm) high. Leaf blades are pale green, 1–6 in (2.5–15 cm) long, narrowly oblong in outline, much divided, and fernlike, as the species name implies. The ultimate segments are extremely fine, scalelike on threadlike divisions. Lower stems are covered with the persistent bases of old leaf stems. The inflorescence is rather slender and open, with unequal rays up to 2 in (5

cm) long. Flowers are minute. The fruit is ovoid to oblong, flattened, and winged on the edges, about 1/4 inch (6 mm) long. Flower: Yellow.

Distribution. Rocky canyon walls; Pinyon-juniper Woodland, 6,000–8,800 ft (1,829–2,683 m).