APIACEAE

CARROT FAMILY

Lincoln Constance

Annual, biennial, perennial herb (rarely shrub, tree), often from taproot
Stem often ± scapose, generally ribbed, hollow
Leaves basal and generally some cauline, generally alternate; stipules generally 0; petiole base generally sheathing stem; blade generally much dissected, sometimes compound
Inflorescence: umbel or head, simple or compound, generally peduncled; bracts present (in involucres) or not; bractlets generally present (in involucels)
Flowers many, small, generally bisexual (or some staminate), generally radial (or outer bilateral); calyx 0 or lobes 5, small, atop ovary; petals 5, free, generally ovate or spoon-shaped, generally incurved at tips, generally ± ephemeral; stamens 5; pistil 1, ovary inferior, 2-chambered, generally with a ± conic, persistent projection or platform on top subtending 2 free styles
Fruit: 2 dry, 1-seeded halves that separate from each other but generally remain attached for some time to a central axis; ribs on each half 5, 2 marginal and 3 on back; oil tubes 1–several per interval between ribs
Genera in family: 300 genera, 3,000 species: ± worldwide, especially temp; many cultivated for food or spice (e.g., Carum, caraway; Daucus; Petroselinum); some highly toxic (e.g., Conium). Underground structures here called roots, but true nature remains problematic. Mature fruit generally critical in identification; shapes generally given in outline, followed by shape in X -section of 2 fruit halves together.

LOMATIUM

Perennial from taproot or generally deep-seated tuber, glabrous to tomentose
Stem 0 or erect, simple or branched; base fibrous (from old leaf sheaths) or not
Leaf: blade oblong to triangular-ovate or obovate, ternately, pinnately, or ternate-pinnately dissected or compound, segments or leaflets thread-like to wide
Inflorescence: umbels compound, peduncled; bracts generally 0; bractlets generally present, 0 to conspicuous; rays, pedicels spreading to erect, often webbed at base
Flower: calyx lobes generally 0; petals wide, yellow, white, or purple, tips narrowed; projection atop ovary 0
Fruit linear to obovate, very compressed front-to-back; marginal ribs widely to narrowly thin or thick-winged, others thread-like; oil tubes per rib-interval 1–several; fruit axis divided to base
Seed: face flat to concave
Species in genus: ± 75 species: c&s North America
Etymology: (Greek: bordered, from prominent marginal fruit wing)
Reference: [Schlessman 1984 Syst Bot Monogr 4:1–55]
Fr wing width expressed as width of 1 wing, not both together.

Native

L. foeniculaceum (Nutt.) J.M. Coult. & Rose

Plant 0.3–3 dm, taprooted, densely puberulent or soft-hairy to tomentose
Stem 0
Leaf: petiole 1–15 cm, < blade, wholly sheathing; blade generally 2.5–18 cm wide, oblong to obovate, pinnately or ternate-pinnately dissected, segments 1–7 mm, linear to obovate, pointed
Inflorescence hairy to nearly glabrous; peduncle 0.3–3 dm; bractlets fused or not, < to = flowers, linear to linear-lanceolate, entire or lobed, acute; rays 1–30, generally 1–8 cm, spreading-ascending or spreading; pedicels 1–15 mm
Flower: corolla yellow, rarely purplish
Fruit 4–12 mm, oblong-ovate, generally hairy; wings generally 1/2 body in width; oil tubes per rib-interval 1–7
Ecology: Sagebrush, pine woodland, open summits, subalpine scrub
Elevation: 1600–3300 m.
Bioregional distribution: East of Sierra Nevada, Desert Mountains (Last Chance Mtns)
Distribution outside California: to British Columbia, Utah, Texas

Native

subsp. inyoense (Mathias & Constance) Theob.

INYO LOMATIUM

Plant 3–12 cm
Leaf: segments 1–2 mm, linear to obovate
Inflorescence: peduncle 3–12 cm; rays generally 1, < 5 cm
Flower: petals pale yellow, glabrous
Ecology: UNCOMMON. Open summits, subalpine scrub
Elevation: < 3000 m.
Bioregional distribution: White and Inyo Mountains (Inyo Mtns)
Distribution outside California: possibly to Idaho, Nevada
Flowering time: Jun–Jul
Synonyms: L. inyoense Mathias & Constance
May be a form induced by high-elevation conditions.