Ligusticum apiifolium

Common name: cerlery leaved lovage or celeryleaf licorice-root

Abbreviation code (Codon): LIAP

Kingdom: Plantae – Plants
Subkingdom: Tracheobionta – Vascular plants
Superdivision: Spermatophyta – Seed plants
Division: Magnoliophyta – Flowering plants
Class: Magnoliopsida – Dicotyledons
Subclass: - Magnoliidae
Order: Apiales
Family: Apiaceae/Umbelliaceae- Carrot family
Genus: Ligusticum
Species: apiifolium

Discription

General: Stout perennial herb from a thick taproot; stems 50-120 cm tall, branching, glabrous, leafy with fibrous remains of leaf sheaths at the base.

Leaves: Compound, mostly basal, divided into distinct toothed leaflets up to 5 cm long; stem leaves reduced but at least 1 fairly well-developed.

Flowers: Inflorescence of compound umbels, rays 12-30, 2.5-6 cm. long; involucre and involucels wanting; calyx teeth obscure; petals five, white.

Fruits: Oblong to elliptic, 4-5 mm long, glabrous, with narrowly winged ribs.

Bloom Period

Distribution

West of the Cascades, Washington to central California.

Habitat

Moist stream banks, slopes and meadows in the mountain zone

Uses

Karok Drug (Dietary Aid) - Infusion of roots taken by person who lacks an appetite. Pomo Drug (Antihemorrhagic) - Decoction of roots taken for lung hemorrhages. Pomo, Kashaya Drug (Blood Medicine) - Decoction of root taken for anemia. Pomo, Kashaya Drug (Tuberculosis Remedy) - Decoction of root taken for the beginning of tuberculosis.

Propagation

Photo Gallery

References

http://biology.burke.washington.edu/herbarium/imagecollection.php http://herb.umd.umich.edu/herb/search.pl

Seed

Abbreviation: LIAP

Seed sample from: 2011

Average Measurement: 4.5 x 2.1 x 1.4

Measurement Range: L: 4 – 5, W: 2 – 2.5, D: 1 – 2

Features

Shapes: Seeds have two distinct seed faces. One side is more flattened or concave, and the other is more convex. Hilum tapered, opposite apex rounded. Color: Entire seed several shades of brown.

Surface: One seed face has several distinct ridges running longitudinally from hilum to opposite apex. The other seed face has one longitudinal white line running from hilum to opposite apex. Seeds sometimes wrinkled or slightly bumpy, and somewhat lustrous.

Latitudinal Cross Section: ovate

Longitudinal Cross Section: elliptical