Lomatium parvifolium
Encyclopedia
Lomatium parvifolium is an uncommon species of flowering plant in the carrot family
known by the common names coastal biscuitroot and small-leaved lomatium. It is endemic to California
, where it is known only from the Central Coast and central California Coast Ranges. It grows in pine forests and other habitat on serpentine soil
s.
. The leaf blades are divided into segments which are subdivided into narrow, flat lobes. The inflorescence
is an umbel
of yellow flowers.
Apiaceae
The Apiaceae , commonly known as carrot or parsley family, is a group of mostly aromatic plants with hollow stems. The family is large, with more than 3,700 species spread across 434 genera, it is the sixteenth largest family of flowering plants...
known by the common names coastal biscuitroot and small-leaved lomatium. It is endemic to California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, where it is known only from the Central Coast and central California Coast Ranges. It grows in pine forests and other habitat on serpentine soil
Serpentine soil
A serpentine soil is derived from ultramafic rocks, in particular serpentinite, a rock formed by the hydration and metamorphic transformation of ultramafic rock from the Earth's mantle....
s.
Description
Lomatium parvifolium is a fleshy perennial herb growing up to about 40 centimeters long from a small taprootTaproot
A taproot is an enlarged, somewhat straight to tapering plant root that grows vertically downward. It forms a center from which other roots sprout laterally.Plants with taproots are difficult to transplant...
. The leaf blades are divided into segments which are subdivided into narrow, flat lobes. The inflorescence
Inflorescence
An inflorescence is a group or cluster of flowers arranged on a stem that is composed of a main branch or a complicated arrangement of branches. Strictly, it is the part of the shoot of seed plants where flowers are formed and which is accordingly modified...
is an umbel
Umbel
An umbel is an inflorescence which consists of a number of short flower stalks which are equal in length and spread from a common point, somewhat like umbrella ribs....
of yellow flowers.