Lomatium californicum

Lomatium californicum is a species of plant related to the carrot and the parsnip which is known by the common names California rock parsnip, celery weed, and California lomatium.[1]

Lomatium californicum
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Apiales
Family: Apiaceae
Genus: Lomatium
Species:
L. californicum
Binomial name
Lomatium californicum
(Nutt.) Mathias & Constance

This plant is native to California and Oregon.[2] It is found on mountains and hills, at elevations of 150–1,800 metres (490–5,910 ft).[3]

Description

Lomatium californicum grows to 3–12 decimetres (0.98–3.94 ft). It has coarsely toothed to lobed blue-green leaves. They resemble those of common celery in both appearance and taste.

The yellow flowers are in broad umbels of 1.5–3 decimetres (5.9–11.8 in) in diameter.[3]

Uses

It is a traditional Native American food source and medicinal plant, with various parts of the plant used, including by the Kawaiisu, Yuki, and Yurok peoples.[4] The Yuki chewed it while hunting to prevent deer from detecting human scents.[4] The Chumash called it chuchupaste (lit. plant of great virtue) and used it to cure headaches and stomach pain.[5]

References
  1. ITIS Standard Report Page: Lomatium californicum
  2. USDA: Lomatium californicum
  3. Jepson: Lomatium californicum
  4. University of Michigan at Dearborn: Native American Ethnobotany of Lomatium californicum
  5. Anderson, Kat (2005). Tending the Wild: Native American Knowledge and the Management of California's Natural Resources. Berkeley: University of California Press. p. 143. ISBN 978-0520280434.
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