Sanicula arguta
Encyclopedia
Sanicula arguta is a species of flowering plant in the parsley family
known by the common names sharptooth sanicle and sharptooth blacksnakeroot. It is native to the coastal hills and mountains of the southern half of California
and Baja California
, where it grows in many types of local habitat. It is a perennial herb growing from a thick taproot
resembling a turnip
. The plant is mostly erect, growing up to half a meter tall. The leaves are up to 10 centimeters long and are divided into several sharp-toothed lobes. The inflorescence
is made up of one or more heads
of bisexual
and male-only
flowers with tiny, curving, golden yellow petals. The prickly fruits are about half a centimeter long.
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 sharptooth sanicle and sharptooth blacksnakeroot. It is native to the coastal hills and mountains of the southern half of 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...
and Baja California
Baja California
Baja California officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Baja California is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is both the northernmost and westernmost state of Mexico. Before becoming a state in 1953, the area was known as the North...
, where it grows in many types of local habitat. It is a perennial herb growing 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...
resembling a turnip
Turnip
The turnip or white turnip is a root vegetable commonly grown in temperate climates worldwide for its white, bulbous taproot. Small, tender varieties are grown for human consumption, while larger varieties are grown as feed for livestock...
. The plant is mostly erect, growing up to half a meter tall. The leaves are up to 10 centimeters long and are divided into several sharp-toothed lobes. 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 made up of one or more heads
Pseudanthium
A pseudanthium or flower head is a special type of inflorescence, in which several flowers are grouped together to form a flower-like structure. The real flowers are generally small and greatly reduced, but can sometimes be quite large...
of bisexual
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....
and male-only
Stamen
The stamen is the pollen producing reproductive organ of a flower...
flowers with tiny, curving, golden yellow petals. The prickly fruits are about half a centimeter long.