Salt and Pepper, Gorman's Biscuitroot, Gorman's Desert-parsley, Gorman's Desert Parsley: Lomatium gormanii (Synonyms: Lomatium gormanii f. purpureum, Peucedanum confusum)

This photo shows a close-up of the main floral stem of Gorman's salt and pepper on slopes between Memaloose and Rowena in the Columbia River Gorge..........February 3, 2020. This species lacks a leaf-like bract on the stem. The similar Piper's salt and pepper (Lomatium piper) has a leaf-like bract on the floral stem.

The photo at left shows the basal leaves and lower floral scape of Gorman's desert parsley as seen atop Stacker Butte in the Columbia River Gorge........April 11, 2008. The photo at right shows a very early blooming Gorman's desert parsley in bloom above the Crawford Oaks Trailhead atColumbia Hills State Park.........November 18, 2017. This is the earliest blooming salt and pepper that we've observed in bloom in the Columbia River Gorge. They can occasionally bloom in December during mild winters, but more typically begin bloom by mid-January most years.