Lomatium nudicaule
Encyclopedia
Lomatium nudicaule is a species of flowering plant in the carrot family
known by the common names barestem biscuitroot, Indian celery and Indian consumption plant. It is native to western North America from British Columbia
to California
to Utah
, where it is known from several habitat types, including forest and woodland. It is a perennial herb growing up to about 70 centimeters tall from a thick taproot
. It generally lacks a stem, the inflorescence
and leaves emerging from ground level. The leaves are made up of many dull green, waxy lance-shaped leaflets each up to 9 centimeters long. The inflorescence
is borne on a stout peduncle
widening at the top where it blooms in an umbel
of yellow or purplish flowers.
, and its parts are used medicinally
, including as a treatment for tuberculosis. It also has been used ceremonially in association with the fishing and processing of salmon
among peoples of southwestern British Columbia
and Washington. For example the W̱SÁNEĆ
(Saanich), who called it qexmín, burn the seeds in a fire or on a stove when drying the salmon. Among other peoples also, including the Kwakwaka'wakw
and Nuu-chah-nulth, the seeds are burned as an incense at funerals and chewed by singers to ease their throats.
Apiaceae
The Apiaceae , commonly known as carrot or parsley family, is a group of mostly aromatic plants with hollow stems. The family is large, with more than 3,700 species spread across 434 genera, it is the sixteenth largest family of flowering plants...
known by the common names barestem biscuitroot, Indian celery and Indian consumption plant. It is native to western North America from British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
to California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
to Utah
Utah
Utah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
, where it is known from several habitat types, including forest and woodland. It is a perennial herb growing up to about 70 centimeters tall from a thick taproot
Taproot
A taproot is an enlarged, somewhat straight to tapering plant root that grows vertically downward. It forms a center from which other roots sprout laterally.Plants with taproots are difficult to transplant...
. It generally lacks a stem, the inflorescence
Inflorescence
An inflorescence is a group or cluster of flowers arranged on a stem that is composed of a main branch or a complicated arrangement of branches. Strictly, it is the part of the shoot of seed plants where flowers are formed and which is accordingly modified...
and leaves emerging from ground level. The leaves are made up of many dull green, waxy lance-shaped leaflets each up to 9 centimeters long. The inflorescence
Inflorescence
An inflorescence is a group or cluster of flowers arranged on a stem that is composed of a main branch or a complicated arrangement of branches. Strictly, it is the part of the shoot of seed plants where flowers are formed and which is accordingly modified...
is borne on a stout peduncle
Peduncle (botany)
In botany, a peduncle is a stem supporting an inflorescence, or after fecundation, an infructescence.The peduncle is a stem, usually green and without leaves, though sometimes colored or supporting small leaves...
widening at the top where it blooms in an umbel
Umbel
An umbel is an inflorescence which consists of a number of short flower stalks which are equal in length and spread from a common point, somewhat like umbrella ribs....
of yellow or purplish flowers.
Uses
This plant is a traditional source of food for many Native American groupsIndigenous peoples of the Americas
The indigenous peoples of the Americas are the pre-Columbian inhabitants of North and South America, their descendants and other ethnic groups who are identified with those peoples. Indigenous peoples are known in Canada as Aboriginal peoples, and in the United States as Native Americans...
, and its parts are used medicinally
Herbalism
Herbalism is a traditional medicinal or folk medicine practice based on the use of plants and plant extracts. Herbalism is also known as botanical medicine, medical herbalism, herbal medicine, herbology, herblore, and phytotherapy...
, including as a treatment for tuberculosis. It also has been used ceremonially in association with the fishing and processing of salmon
Salmon
Salmon is the common name for several species of fish in the family Salmonidae. Several other fish in the same family are called trout; the difference is often said to be that salmon migrate and trout are resident, but this distinction does not strictly hold true...
among peoples of southwestern British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
and Washington. For example the W̱SÁNEĆ
Saanich
The Saanich or W̱SÁNEĆ are indigenous nations from the north coast of the Olympic Peninsula in Washington, the Gulf and San Juan Islands, southern Vancouver Island and the southern edge of the Lower Mainland in British Columbia.*BOḰEĆEN – Pauquachin...
(Saanich), who called it qexmín, burn the seeds in a fire or on a stove when drying the salmon. Among other peoples also, including the Kwakwaka'wakw
Kwakwaka'wakw
The Kwakwaka'wakw are an Indigenous group of First Nations peoples, numbering about 5,500, who live in British Columbia on northern Vancouver Island and the adjoining mainland and islands.Kwakwaka'wakw translates as "Those who speak Kwak'wala", describing the collective nations within the area that...
and Nuu-chah-nulth, the seeds are burned as an incense at funerals and chewed by singers to ease their throats.