''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
Endemism is the state of a species being found in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found elsew ...
to
California
California is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States, located along the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the List of states and territori ...
, where it is known only from the
Central Coast and central
California Coast Ranges
The Coast Ranges of California span from Del Norte or Humboldt County, California, south to Santa Barbara County. The other three coastal California mountain ranges are the Transverse Ranges, Peninsular Ranges and the Klamath Mountains.
P ...
. It grows in
pine forests and other habitat on
serpentine soil
Serpentine soil is an uncommon soil type produced by weathered ultramafic rock such as peridotite and its metamorphic derivatives such as serpentinite. More precisely, serpentine soil contains minerals of the serpentine subgroup, especially anti ...
s.
Description
''Lomatium parvifolium'' is a fleshy perennial herb growing up to about 40 centimeters long from a small
taproot. The leaf blades are divided into segments which are subdivided into narrow, flat lobes. The
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. Morphologically, it is the modified part of the shoot of seed plants where flowers are formed o ...
is an
umbel
In botany, an umbel is an inflorescence that consists of a number of short flower stalks (called pedicels) that spread from a common point, somewhat like umbrella ribs. The word was coined in botanical usage in the 1590s, from Latin ''umbella'' "p ...
of yellow flowers.
External links
Jepson Manual Treatment - ''Lomatium parvifolium''USDA Plants Profile; ''Lomatium parvifolium''''Lomatium parvifolium'' - Photo gallery
parvifolium
Endemic flora of California
Monterey Ranger District, Los Padres National Forest
Flora without expected TNC conservation status
{{Apiaceae-stub