The
photo at right shows the upper leaf surface of Angelica genuflexa as found
along the stream at Latourell Falls in the Columbia River Gorge during June, 2001.
Kneeling Angelica is an erect perennial with stout and leafy stems from 90-150 cm high. The stems are often glaucous in coloration. The ternate to twice pinnately compound leaves are distinct in having the leaf stalk bend back from the axis of the blade at the point of insertion of the first pair of leaflets, and often at the point of insertion of the other leaflets. The leaflets are also commonly reflexed downward from the stem. Individual leaflets are ovate, lanceolate, or elliptic in shape with serrate margins. They range from 4-10 cm long and 1.5-5 cm wide. The leaflets are glabrous on the upper surfaces and may have hairs along the veins on their under sides.
The inflorescence is a compound umbel of numerous white or pink flowers. The rays of the umbel number from 22-45, are unequal in length, and up to 7 cm long. No involucre subtends the individual umbels. The fruit are small, ranging from 3-4 mm long with the lateral wings wider than the body of the fruit.
Kneeling angelica may be found in moist soils such as along stream banks, in wet meadows, marshes and at the base of waterfalls.
Kneeling angelica may be found to the west of the Cascade crest from Alaska south to northern California and east to southwestern Alberta and the Selkirk Mts. of southern British Columbia.
In the Columbia River Gorge it may be found between the elevations of 100'-4000' between Silver Star Mountain and the White Salmon River.
