Nevada Biscuitroot, Nevada Desert Parsley, Nevada Lomatium

Lomatium nevadense var. nevadense

Nevada desert parsley as seen in gravelly soils near the Antelope Mountain Lookout, Malheur National Forest..........June 4, 2011.

Also known as Nevada lomatium, Nevada desert parsley is a perennial wildflower with several basal leaves and one or two flower scapes arising 5-40 cm from an elongated taproot. The stems are very short and often do not extend beyond the ground. The herbage consists of numerous short, fine to coarse hairs. The several bluish- to gray-green leaves are at the base, often originating from slightly underground. They are bipinnately to tripinnately compound, and divided into narrow, linear segments from 2-3 mm long. The blades measure 3-6 cm long.

The inflorescence is a compact umbel at flowering with 5-20 closely ascending rays, each unequally extending from 1-3 cm long. Several oblong, elliptic to lanceolate bracts subtend the umbel. These often have whitish, membranous margins. The whitish flowers are atop pedicels from 3-10 mm long. The fruits are oval, oblong or elliptic in outline and measure from 6-8 mm long. The dorsal and intermediate ribs of the fruits are sharp and narrow and the wings are narrower than the body.

Nevada desert parsley may be found on dry, open slopes and flats in open woods to grasslands. It is most commonly found in the plains and foothills up to about 2700 meters of elevation in the southern part of its range.

The photo above shows the leafy bracts below the umbels of Nevada desert parsley from along the north loop road on the Steens Mt, southeastern Oregon...........May 27, 2000. Note the membranous margins to the bracts.

Nevada desert parsley may be found from central and southeastern Oregon south to southern California and east to southwestern Idaho and south through Nevada to central and southern Utah, Arizona and New Mexico. It is also found into northwestern Mexico.

Additional close-up photos of Nevada desert parsley as seen in gravelly soils near the Antelope Mountain Lookout, Malheur National Forest.........June 4, 2011.

Maturing fruits of Nevada desert parsley observed along the Fremont National Recreation Trail #160 on the west side of Twelvemile Peak, Fremont-Winema National Forest....July 16, 2022.

A close-up view of maturing fruits of Nevada desert parsley observed at left on a bald along the Fremont National Recreation Trail #160 at about 7400' on the southeastern shoulder of Crook Peak, Fremont-Winema National Forest.......June 28, 2019. The photo at right shows the developing fruits of Nevada desert parsley as seen atop Bald Butte, about 8-10 miles north of Gearhart Mountain, Fremont-Winema National Forest.....June 19, 2020.

Additional close-up photos of Nevada desert parsley as seen in gravelly soils (serpentine ?) along Forest Service Road #1647 in southeastern Logan Valley, Malheur National Forest.........June 3, 2011.

Nevada desert parsley beginning to bloom on gravelly soils at Jackman Park, Steens Mountain of southeastern Oregon.............June 2, 2012.

Nevada desert parsley as seen atop Hager Mountain, Fremont National Forest.........May 19, 2016.

Fruits of Nevada desert parsley as seen on the east-facing slopes of the Hart Mt. ridgeline to the west of Hot Springs Campground, Hart Mt. National Antelope Refuge........June 9, 2016.

Nevada desert parsley as seen in scablands at the junction of Oregon Highway 31 and Forest Road 2901, just east of Picture Rock Pass.......April 30, 2017.

Nevada desert parsley as seen atop Pine Mountain, Deschutes National Forest, eastern Deschutes County, OR........May 12, 2018.

Nevada desert parsley in bloom at the junction of Forest Roads 16 and 1750 at the western crest of the Maury Mountains, Ochoco National Forest......April 27, 2018.

The photo above shows Nevada desert parsley as seen from along the north loop road on the Steens Mt, southeastern Oregon........May 27, 2000.

The glaucous leaf of Nevada desert parsley as seen from a bank along forest road #21 immediately above and north of Murderers Creek, Malheur NF of central Oregon...........May 23, 2003.