Lomatium salmoniflorum
Encyclopedia
Lomatium salmoniflorum (salmonflower biscuitroot) is a perennial herb
native to northwest United States
. In February and March one to nineteen umbel
s bloom, each with up to 300 flowers. Each flower is either strictly staminate
or hermaphroditic. It has glabrous leaves that are deeply dissected into narrow blades.
and the stems are often separated at the ground, 20 to 60 cm tall. Lomatium salmoniflorum is the first Lomatium
species to bloom in its area. It is often confused with Lomatium grayi
, the species most similar to Lomatium salmoniflorum. Lomatium salmoniflorum flowers are not as brightly yellow as other Lomatium species. Lomatium salmoniflorum can be found growing along Snake
and Clearwater River
for about 100 miles.
Herb
Except in botanical usage, an herb is "any plant with leaves, seeds, or flowers used for flavoring, food, medicine, or perfume" or "a part of such a plant as used in cooking"...
native to northwest United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. In February and March one to nineteen 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....
s bloom, each with up to 300 flowers. Each flower is either strictly staminate
Plant sexuality
Plant sexuality covers the wide variety of sexual reproduction systems found across the plant kingdom. This article describes morphological aspects of sexual reproduction of plants....
or hermaphroditic. It has glabrous leaves that are deeply dissected into narrow blades.
Description
Lomatium salmoniflorum has a particularly thick taprootTaproot
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...
and the stems are often separated at the ground, 20 to 60 cm tall. Lomatium salmoniflorum is the first Lomatium
Lomatium
Lomatium is a genus of 70 to 80 perennial herbs native to western North America.Several species, including L. cous, L. geyeri, and L. macrocarpum, are sometimes known as biscuit roots for their starchy edible roots. These are or have been traditional Native American foods, eaten cooked or dried...
species to bloom in its area. It is often confused with Lomatium grayi
Lomatium grayi
Lomatium grayi is a perennial herb of the family Apiaceae. It is native to the Western United States, including northeastern California, and grows in dry, rocky areas with a lifespan of 5–7 years.-Description:...
, the species most similar to Lomatium salmoniflorum. Lomatium salmoniflorum flowers are not as brightly yellow as other Lomatium species. Lomatium salmoniflorum can be found growing along Snake
Snake River
The Snake is a major river of the greater Pacific Northwest in the United States. At long, it is the largest tributary of the Columbia River, the largest North American river that empties into the Pacific Ocean...
and Clearwater River
Clearwater River (Idaho)
The Clearwater River is a river in north central Idaho, which flows westward from the Bitterroot Mountains along the Idaho-Montana border, and joins the Snake River at Lewiston. In October 1805, the Lewis and Clark Expedition descended the Clearwater River in dugout canoes, putting in at "Canoe...
for about 100 miles.