[Biscuitroots and Desert Parsleys: The Genus Lomatium in the Columbia River
Gorge of Oregon and Washington]
Watson's Desert Parsley, Watson's Desert-parsley, Watson's Lomatium
Lomatium watsonii
Synonym: Lomatium frenchii
![Watson's Desert Parsley, Watson's Desert-parsley, Watson's Lomatium: Lomatium watsonii (Synonym: Lomatium frenchii)](watsonii/watsonii03-24-2017.jpg)
Watson's desert parsley blooming at the crest of the Columbia Hills, Columbia River Gorge..........March 24, 2017.
The
photo at right shows the fruits of Watson's desert parsley.
Characteristics:
Watson's desert parsley is a puberulent to nearly glabrous perennial,
somewhat similar in appearance to Lomatium cous, with one to several
stems arising from 5-15 cm from an elongated, stout, to somewhat tuberous rootstock.
The stems often lack leaves. The leaves are bipinnate, and including the petioles
are 5-8 cm long. The segments of the leaflets are linear in shape with obtuse
tips, and range from 2-4 mm long (See photo below.).
Each umbel consists of 4-8 rays of unequal length, the longest
measuring from 2-3 cm long (See photo at right.) The involucel consists of a
ring of united bracts, the individual bracts somewhat broadly triangular in
outline. The flowers are yellowish or could be creamy or whitish. The fruits
are ovate in shape and 6-7 mm long and up to 4 mm wide with wings less than
half as wide as the body of the fruit. The fruits are finely puberulent or occasionally
glabrous.
Habitat:
Watson's desert parsley may be found in arid, open, often rocky
hillsides. It is often found amongst sagebrush.
Range:
Watson's desert parsley may be found east of the Cascade Mts.
from southern Kittitas, Yakima, and Klickitat counties in Washington to Jefferson
county in north-central Oregon.
In the Columbia River Gorge it is only found
in the Columbia Hills.
- ![Watson's Desert Parsley, Watson's Desert-parsley, Watson's Lomatium: Lomatium watsonii (Synonym: Lomatium frenchii)](watsonii/watsonii04-05-2023.jpg)
Watson's desert parsley as seen in the Columbia Hills of the Columbia River Gorge.........March 17, 2007 (at left) and April 5, 2023 (at right)..
![Watson's Desert Parsley, Watson's Desert-parsley, Watson's Lomatium: Lomatium watsonii (Synonym: Lomatium frenchii)](watsonii/watsonii2.jpg)
A leaf of Watson's desert parsley, as seen in the Columbia Hills in the Columbia River Gorge.............May 18, 2002.
![Watson's Desert Parsley, Watson's Desert-parsley, Watson's Lomatium: Lomatium watsonii (Synonym: Lomatium frenchii)](watsonii/watsonii.jpg)
The photo above shows the leaves and inflorescence
of Watson's desert parsley. Columbia Hills.........February 26, 2005.
![Watson's Desert Parsley, Watson's Desert-parsley, Watson's Lomatium: Lomatium watsonii (Synonym: Lomatium frenchii)](watsonii/watsoniiinfl.jpg)
The photo above shows a close-up of the inflorescence
of Watson's desert parsley. Columbia Hills..........February 26, 2005.
![Watson's Desert Parsley, Watson's Desert-parsley, Watson's Lomatium: Lomatium watsonii (Synonym: Lomatium frenchii)](watsonii/watsonii3a.jpg)
Watson's desert parsley blooming in the Columbia Hills Natural Area Preserve...........April 3, 2013.
- ![Fruits of Watson's Desert Parsley, Watson's Desert-parsley, Watson's Lomatium: Lomatium watsonii (Synonym: Lomatium frenchii)](watsonii/watsonii7b.jpg)
- ![Fruits of Watson's Desert Parsley, Watson's Desert-parsley, Watson's Lomatium: Lomatium watsonii (Synonym: Lomatium frenchii)](watsonii/watsonii7d.jpg)
![Watson's Desert Parsley, Watson's Desert-parsley, Watson's Lomatium: Lomatium watsonii (Synonym: Lomatium frenchii)](watsonii/watsonii7e.jpg)
Close-ups of the maturing fruits of Watson's desert parsley as seen along the Bickleton Highway between Bickleton, WA and Rock Creek..........May 17, 2014.
- ![Watson's Desert Parsley, Watson's Desert-parsley, Watson's Lomatium: Lomatium watsonii (Synonym: Lomatium frenchii)](watsonii/watsonii03-25-2016b.jpg)
Watson's desert parsley as seen at bloom in the Columbia Hills NAP.........March 25, 2016.
- ![Watson's Desert Parsley, Watson's Desert-parsley, Watson's Lomatium: Lomatium watsonii (Synonym: Lomatium frenchii)](watsonii/watsonii02-12-2020.jpg)
Watson's desert parsley as seen in the Columbia Hills NAP.......March 4, 2020 (left) and February 12, 2020 (right).
![Watson's Desert Parsley, Watson's Desert-parsley, Watson's Lomatium: Lomatium watsonii (Synonym: Lomatium frenchii)](watsonii/watsonii1.jpg)
Watson's desert parsley as seen from the Columbia
Hills, Columbia River Gorge.............February 26, 2005.
Paul Slichter