[Sanicles and Snakeroots: The Genus Sanicula East of the Cascade Mountains of Oregon and Washington]

Western Snake Root, Northern Sanicle, Sierran Black-snakeroot

Sanicula graveolens

Synonyms: Sanicula apiifolia, Sanicula graveolens var. septentrionalis, Sanicula nevadensis, Sanicula nevadensis var. septentrionalis, Sanicula septentrionalis

Western snake root as seen on opens slopes along forest service road #35 about one hundred meters north of its junction with road #3521, Wenatchee National Forest........June 5, 2009.

Leaf of Western Snake Root, Northern Sanicle, Sierran Black-snakeroot: Sanicula graveolens (Synonyms: Sanicula apiifolia, Sanicula graveolens var. septentrionalis, Sanicula nevadensis, Sanicula nevadensis var. septentrionalis, Sanicula septentrionalis)

The photo at right illustrates a lower stem leaf of western snake root. Leaves from the east side of the cascades often tend to be more glaucous than their greener counterparts from the Columbia River Gorge. Photographed from Aldrich Mt., Malheur N.F.........May 26, 2002.

Characteristics:

Western snake root is a perennial wildflower with a single stem arising from a taproot. The stem is often branched near its base into several branches which may be further branched above. The stems range from 5-50 cm high. The leaves are alternate an all found on the stems, with the lower leaves well developed and petiolate. These often appear to come separately from the ground but are indeed attached to the main stem. The blades of the lower leaves range from 1.5-4 cm long and 2-3.5 cm wide and are ternately to pinnately compound with 3-7 or more leaflets. Each leaflet is further pinnatifid with the lowest pair of leaflets separate from the rest by an entire leaf rachis or vein. The upper leaves are sessile, reduced in size and tend to have fewer leaflets.

The inflorescence is a cluster of several umbels which are spaced closely together when in bloom. A series of 6-10 oblong-ovate to lance-linear bracts subtend each umbel cluster. The flowers are yellowish and each umbel measures roughly 1 cm in diameter. Individual umbels are 10-15 flowered. The fruits are ovoid-globose in shape and measure 3-5 mm long and 2-4 mm wide, with at least the upper surface covered with stout prickles which are hooked at their tips.

The leaves and flowers of western snake root would make a nice ground cover in a dryland open forest.

Habitat:

Western snake root may be found on open to lightly wooded slopes and flatlands from low elevation to moderate elevation in the mountains.

Range:

Western snake root may be found from southern British Columbia south to California and east to western Montana and northwestern Wyoming. It is also found in Chile and Argentina.

Western snakeroot as seen (left) along FS Road #38-200 near Spanish Peak, Ochoco National Forest..........June 14, 2015. The photo at right shows western snakeroot as seen along the trail on Lookout Mt., Ochoco National Forest.........May 29, 2016.

Western snakeroot as seen along the Round Mountain South Trail #805 near Wildhorse Springs on the south side of Round Mt., Ochoco National Forest.........May 28, 2016.

Western snakeroot as seen atop Lookout Mountain, Ochoco National Forest.........May 26, 2018

Western snake root as seen (at left) from Aldrich Mt., Malheur NF...........May 26, 2002. The photo at right shows western snake root as seen near the summit of Lookout Mt., Ochoco NF..........June 22, 1998.

The photo above shows the leaf of Sanicula graveolens as seen along FS Rd 31 north of Mt. Emily, Wallowa-Whitman NF..............June 27, 2003.

Western snake root from Catherine Creek, Columbia River Gorge.......April 27, 1997.

Paul Slichter