Suksdorf's Desert Parsley, Suksdorf's Lomatium
Lomatium suksdorfii
Synonym: Cogswellia suksdorfii
The photo above shows Suksdorf's desert parsley as seen under Oregon white oaks from the Klickitat River canyon........April 13, 2007.
The
photo at right shows a smaller umbelet of Suksdorf's desert parsley. Note the
long, narrow bracts below the edges of the umbelet.
Characteristics:
Suksdorf's desert parsley is an attractive, erect perennial
with branching growth arising from 50-200 cm high. The large leaves are ternately-
to pinnately-compound with dissected margins. The leaflets are long and narrow
(See photos.) and range from 1-5 cm long and 1-5 mm wide.
The inflorescence is an umbel of many clusters of smaller umbels.
The longer rays of the umbel range from 6-11 cm long. Long narrow bracts up to
1 cm long subtend the smaller umbellets and the pedicels range from 6-13 mm long.
The minute flowers have 5 tiny petals and the flowers are yellow. The large fruits
are glabrous at maturity and range from 15-32 mm long with lateral wings 1/3-1/2
as wide as the body of the fruit. The dorsal ribs of the the fruit are distinctly
raised or narrowly winged.
Habitat:
Suksdorf's desert parsley may be found on dry open, grassy slopes
or in open oak woods.
Range:
Suksdorf's desert parsley may only be found in the eastern foothills of the Cascade Mts in portions of western Klickitat County, WA and western Wasco County, OR.
The photo above shows a close-up view looking down onto the upper surface of an umbel of Suksdorf's desert parsley. Photographed in the Klickitat River canyon..........April 13, 2007.
The photo above shows another close-up view of the upper surface of an umbel of Suksdorf's desert parsley. Photographed in the Klickitat River canyon.........April 13, 2007. Note that the branches of the umbel are of unequal lengths.
Note the long, thin bracts under the smaller
umbels of Suksdorf's desert parsley.
Maturing fruit of Suksdorf's desert parsely as seen along the Klickitat River........June 28, 2009.
The photo above shows the leaflets at the tip of a leaf of Suksdorf's desert parsley as seen in the Klickitat River canyon, south-central Washington.........April 13, 2007.
Pinnately-compound leaf of a young Suksdorf's
desert parsley. Note the long, thin leaf segments.
This photo shows suksdorf's desert parslely in bloom in the Klickitat River Canyon between Glenwood, WA and Goldendale, WA........April 5, 2008.
Paul Slichter
