Lomatium utriculatum
- Latin Name: Lomatium utriculatum
- Family: Apiaceae
- Common Names: common biscuit-root, bladder desert-parsley, spring-gold
- Synonyms/Misapplications: Lomatium vaseyi
- Codon: LOMUTR
Contents
Taxonomy
- Kingdom - Plantae – Plants
- Subkingdom - Tracheobionta – Vascular plants
Superdivision - Spermatophyta – Seed plants
- Division - Magnoliophyta – Flowering plants
- Class - Magnoliopsida – Dicotyledons
- Subclass - Rosidae
- Order - Apiales
- Family - Apiaceae – Carrot family
- Genus - Lomatium Raf. – desertparsley
- Species - - Lomatium utriculatum (Nutt. ex Torr. & A. Gray) J.M. Coult. & Rose – common lomatium
Plant Description
General: Perennial from a slender taproot, 1-6 dm. tall.
Leaves: Leaves chiefly cauline, soft, ternate-pinnately dissected, the ultimate segments crowded, pointed, up to 5 mm. long and less than 1 mm. wide.
Flowers: Inflorescence a compound umbel, the rays as many as 15, unequal, 2-7 mm. long at maturity; involucre none; bractlets of the involucel well developed, 2-5 mm. long, obovate to elliptic, the tip often shallowly cleft; calyx teeth none; flowers bright yellow; pedicels 2-8 mm. long. [1]
Bloom Period
April-June [1]
Distribution
West of the Cascades in Washington;British Columbia south to California. [1]
Habitat
Low elevations; somewhat moist, open, often rocky areas. [1]
Uses
A decoction of the plant has been used as a wash for swollen and broken limbs. The root is analgesic and stomachic. It has been chewed or infused as a treatment for headaches and stomach complaints. [2]
Propagation
Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame. Stored seed can be rather slow to germinate, when sown in the spring it usually takes at least 12 months to germinate. Giving it a period of cold stratification might reduce this time. The seedlings need to be pricked out into individual pots as soon as they are large enough to handle, and should be planted out into their permanent positions in the summer. Fresh seed can be sown immediately in situ. Division may be possible in spring or autumn.[2]
Seed
Seed sample from: 2011
Average Measurement: 5.7 x 3.2 x 0.5
Measurement Range: L: 5.25 – 6.5, W: 2.5 – 4, D: 0.25 – 0.6
Features
Shape: Seeds schizoid, very flat and winged. Hilum and opposite apex are narrower than middle of seed.
Color: Inner seed face is dark reddish brown, with off-white wings. Hilum is tan.
Surface: Three off-white ridges run longitudinally across dark seed face. On opposite seed face, one off-white ridge bisects dark seed face from hilum to opposite apex. In most seeds, two shorter anZZXd lest distinct white markings run parallel to the main white ridge. Seed smooth and somewhat iridescent.
Latitudinal Cross Section: elliptical 
Longitudinal Cross Section: elliptical 
