| Adobe Parsley | |
|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
|
Imperiled (NatureServe) |
|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Asterids |
| Order: | Apiales |
| Family: | Apiaceae |
| Genus: | Lomatium |
| Species: | L. roseanum |
| Binomial name | |
| Lomatium roseanum Cronquist |
|
Adobe parsley (Lomatium roseanum) also goes by the names of adobe lomatium and rose-flowered desert-parsley. It is a very rare plant of the Western U.S., known only from northwestern Nevada and southeastern Oregon, and which may also occur in northeastern California. The largest populations occur on the Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge.[1] It is a member of the celery family, the Umbelliferae, and has yellow flowers.
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The range of adobe parsley is extremely limited: it is known only from Washoe County in Nevada and nearby places in southeastern Oregon, where it has possibly already been extirpated. It is also suspected to exist in Humboldt County, Nevada. Fewer than 20 known populations exist, though these can be large.[1]
Adobe parsley lives in loose, rocky habitat. Specifically, it prefers dry basalt talus scree overlying clay soils. It associates with the low sagebrush community, and specific associates include Artemisia arbuscula, Poa secunda, Elymus elymoides, Arenaria aculeata, Phlox spp., Erigeron linearis, etc.[1]
The fire ecology of this plant is unknown for members of this genus. The low sagebrush community type within which adobe parsley lives generally lacks enough fuels to carry a fire. When it does burn, these non-fire adapted shrubs are usually killed and replaced by medusahead and cheatgrass, and re-establish low sagebrush vegetation through time (2 to 5 years) via seeds.[3]
Adobe parsley occurs between 5,750 ft. and 6,175 ft. above sea level. It flowers and may be most easily recognised in early spring, i.e., between April and June. It stands out because of its tuberous root, yellow flowers, and green shiny leaves.[1] It resembles L. hendersonii, which is found farther north, but is more robust (larger) and somewhat caulescent.[2]
Leptotaenia leibergii J.M. Coult. & Rose (1900) Contributions from the United States National Herbarium 7: 202, pl. 7.