Sandberg desert-parsley
Species profile by Wendy Aeschliman
An article on a rare finding of this species within Scotchman's Peaks is published in the Kinnikinnick Journal! Link here
Common Name(s): Sandberg desert-parsley, Sandberg’s biscuitroot, Indianroot.
Scientific Name: Lomatium sandbergii, also known as Peucedanum sandbergii Coult. & Rose (Kartesz 1994) Umbelliferae (Carrot Family)
General Info: A perennial, 4 to 12 inches (10-30 cm) long, with an elongated, slightly thickened taproot. Leafy stems bear elongate flower stalks.
Native/ Non-native: Native
Ecology: High elevation - 6000 ft (2000 m). Only found on dry, open slopes and ridges in upper montane to subalpine zones.
Range: Overall range quite limited. Southern B.C. and Alberta (Canada), Washington (only found in Pend Oreille County), northwestern Montana, northern Idaho.
Leaves: ½ to 2 ¾ in. (1.5 to 7 cm) long; dissected into compound featherlike leaflets. Leaves mostly basal with a few on lower stems. Leaves wither as flower ripens. Herbage is granular rough-hairy to nearly hairless.
Flowers: Yellow, flat-topped or convex. Rays elongate unequally, with the longer ones mostly 1 to 4 in. (2.5-10 cm) at maturity. Individual flower stalks are 1/16 to 1/8 in. (2-5 mm) long. Blooms May through July.
Fruits: granular, rough-hairy, elliptic, 1/8 to 3/8 in (5-8 mm) long. Wings of fruit only 1/5 to 1/3 as wide as the body.
Notes: For positive identification of this uncommon plant, a technical key is recommended.
Resources/ Links:
Watercolor of Lomatium sandbergii by Emily Nisbet