[Biscuitroots and Desert Parsleys: The Genus Lomatium East of the Cascade Mts. of Oregon and Washington]

Salt and Pepper, Gorman's Desert Parsley, Gorman's Lomatium

Lomatium gormanii

Gorman's Desert Parsley, Salt and Pepper, Gorman's Lomatium, Salt and Pepper: Lomatium gormanii

The photo above shows Gorman's desert parsley as seen on rocky slopes to the north of and above the day use area at Cottonwood Canyon State Park, Sherman County, Oregon........March 18, 2016. Note the lack of leaves on the scape (all leaves arise from underground) and that the plant has developing fruits.
Close-up of the inflorescence of Gorman's Desert Parsley, Salt and Pepper: Lomatium gormaniiThe photo at right shows a close-up of the inflorescence of Gorman's desert parsley as seen at the parking area for the trail to Hog Lake, a BLM site east of Sprague, WA.........April 27, 2006.
Characteristics:

As noted below, Gorman's desert parsley is similar to both Piper's and Geyer's desert parsleys. Many text have previously lumped both Gorman's and Piper's desert parsleys as Lomatium gormanii. The information presented here tries to differentiate L. gormanii from the other two plants.

Gorman's desert parsley is a minute-haired perennial wildflower with one to several erect to ascending flower scapes from 15-55 cm tall arising from an almost spherical root up to 2.5 cm thick. The one to several leaves are all attached to the stem at or below the ground. The blades are 3-6 cm long and ternately divided and then divided pinnately again one or two times. The narrow, linear segments are 3-12 mm long and 1-2 mm wide. The flower scapes are 3-8 cm high and are longer than the leaves.

The inflorescence is an umbel with 2-10 unequal rays up to 25 mm long. The bracts at the base of the umbellets are narrowly lanceolate or linear and most typically less than 2 mm long. The pedicels are up to 2 mm long in fruit. The flowers are white with purplish anthers and the umbellets are each few-flowered. The fruits are elliptic or narrowly ovate in shape with wings about half as wide as the body. The fruits measure from 5-7 mm long.

Similar Species:

Geyer's Desert Parsley: Lomatium geyeri - Plants from 15-40 cm tall at maturity. The glabrous fruits are 7-12 mm long and the bracts of the umbellets are 2-3 mm long.

Salt and Pepper, Gorman's Desert Parsley: Lomatium gormanii - Plants up to 15 cm tall. Fruits minutely pubescent. The minutely pubescent fruits are 5-7 mm long and the bracts of the umbellets are typically less than 2 mm long. Plants generally lack a stem leaf or bracts.

Salt and Pepper, Piper's Desert Parsley: Lomatium piperi - Plants up to 15 cm tall. The glabrous fruits are 5-7 mm long with the bracts of the umbellets typically less than 2 mm long. There typically is a leaf or bracts or small inflorescence arising about 1/3 to 1/2 the way up the scape.

Habitat:

Geyer's desert parsley may be found on open slopes and flats in grassland as well as scabland.

Range:

Gorman's desert parsley may be found east of the Cascade Mts. from north-central Washington south to north-central Oregon and perhaps to southeastern Oregon. It may be found eastward to Idaho. The similar Piper's desert parsley may be found over much of the same range (often side by side) but is also found south of Gorman's desert parsley through south-central Oregon into northeastern California.

Gorman's Desert Parsley, , Gorman's Lomatium, Salt and Pepper: Lomatium gormanii

The photo above shows Gorman's desert parsley as seen at the parking area for the trail to Hog Lake, a BLM site east of Sprague, WA........April 27, 2006.

Close-up of the inflorescence of Gorman's Desert Parsley, Salt and Pepper: Lomatium gormanii

The photo at right shows a close-up of the inflorescence of Gorman's desert parsley as seen at the parking area for the trail to Hog Lake, a BLM site east of Sprague, WA..........April 27, 2006.

Gorman's Desert Parsley, Salt and Pepper, Gorman's Lomatium, Salt and Pepper: Lomatium gormanii - Gorman's Desert Parsley, Salt and Pepper, Gorman's Lomatium, Salt and Pepper: Lomatium gormanii

What appears to be Gorman's desert parsley as seen (left) along Oregon Highway 218 about a mile south of Shaniko, Oregon........March 10, 2015. The photo at right shows what appears to be Gorman's desert parsley as seen in scablands atop Lookout Mt., Ochoco National Forest........May 29, 2016.

Mature fruits of Gorman's Desert Parsley, Salt and Pepper, Gorman's Lomatium, Salt and Pepper: Lomatium gormanii - Gorman's Desert Parsley, Salt and Pepper, Gorman's Lomatium, Salt and Pepper: Lomatium gormanii

Close-up of mature frutis of what appears to be Gorman's desert parsley as seen (left) in vernally moist swales in open forest of west of FS Road #4215 in Antler Prairie, Ochoco National Forest...........May 27, 2016. Close-up of maturing fruits of Gorman's desert parsley as seen on scablands between Long Prairie and FS Road 4230-050, Ochoco National Forest........April 30, 2016. If not L. gormanii, then these would be L. piperi.

Gorman's Desert Parsley, Salt and Pepper: Lomatium gormanii

Gorman's desert parsley growing in rocky soil around Fish Lake Campground on the Steens Mountain of southeastern Oregon...........June 2, 2012.

The photo above shows Gorman's desert parsley as seen atop Lookout Mt., Ochoco NF........June 22, 1998.

The photo above shows Gorman's desert parsley ? as seen at the Cedar Grove, Aldrich Mts., Malheur NF........May 25, 2003.

The photo above shows Gorman's desert parsley as seen atop Lions Rock at the western edge of Table Mt., Wenatchee NF.........June 23, 1997.
Slichter