Lomatium ochocense
Encyclopedia
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 and described to science as a new species in 2010. It is a small perennial herb growing up to 8 centimeters tall. It grows from a large black root up to 3 centimeters in diameter. The waxy blue-green leaves are divided into many overlapping segments. The inflorescence
is a compound umbel
of flowers that extends out horizontally. The flowers are andromonoecious, either bisexual or only staminate
with no female parts. The tiny petals are yellow. This plant grows among many other species of Lomatium and it can be distinguished by its blue-green leaves with overlapping leaflets.
This plant is restricted to scabland habitat with exposed bedrock
. Other plants in the area include scabland sagebrush (Artemisia rigida), pine bluegrass
(Poa secunda), rock onion (Allium macrum), bitterroot (Lewisia rediviva), Henderson's needlegrass (Achnatherum hendersonii), and wormleaf stonecrop
(Sedum stenopetalum). Lomatium species are common.
Though the plant is a local endemic, the populations are quite large and are located on Bureau of Land Management
land with few threats to their survival.
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 name Ochoco lomatium. It is endemic to Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
, where it is limited to the Ochoco Mountains
Ochoco Mountains
The Ochoco Mountains are a mountain range in central Oregon. The Ochoco Mountains form the western end of the Blue Mountains province. The mountains were formed when Permian, Triassic, and Jurassic rocks were slowly uplifted by volcanic eruptions to form the Clarno Formation. Today, the highest...
of Crook County
Crook County, Oregon
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 19,182 people, 7,354 households, and 5,427 families residing in the county. The population density was 6 people per square mile . There were 8,264 housing units at an average density of 3 per square mile...
.
This plant was discovered in 1994 and described to science as a new species in 2010. It is a small perennial herb growing up to 8 centimeters tall. It grows from a large black root up to 3 centimeters in diameter. The waxy blue-green leaves are divided into many overlapping segments. 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 a compound 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 flowers that extends out horizontally. The flowers are andromonoecious, either bisexual or only staminate
Stamen
The stamen is the pollen producing reproductive organ of a flower...
with no female parts. The tiny petals are yellow. This plant grows among many other species of Lomatium and it can be distinguished by its blue-green leaves with overlapping leaflets.
This plant is restricted to scabland habitat with exposed bedrock
Bedrock
In stratigraphy, bedrock is the native consolidated rock underlying the surface of a terrestrial planet, usually the Earth. Above the bedrock is usually an area of broken and weathered unconsolidated rock in the basal subsoil...
. Other plants in the area include scabland sagebrush (Artemisia rigida), pine bluegrass
Poa secunda
Poa secunda is a widespread species of grass native to North America. It is highly resistant to drought conditions, and provides excellent fodder.-External links:**...
(Poa secunda), rock onion (Allium macrum), bitterroot (Lewisia rediviva), Henderson's needlegrass (Achnatherum hendersonii), and wormleaf stonecrop
Sedum stenopetalum
Sedum stenopetalum is a species of flowering plant in the stonecrop family known by the common name wormleaf stonecrop. It is native to western North America from British Columbia and Alberta to northern California to Wyoming. It can be found in many types of rocky habitat, such as cliffs, talus,...
(Sedum stenopetalum). Lomatium species are common.
Though the plant is a local endemic, the populations are quite large and are located on Bureau of Land Management
Bureau of Land Management
The Bureau of Land Management is an agency within the United States Department of the Interior which administers America's public lands, totaling approximately , or one-eighth of the landmass of the country. The BLM also manages of subsurface mineral estate underlying federal, state and private...
land with few threats to their survival.