Al Schneider's Rocky Mountains Plant Descriptions

Alpine False Springparsley
Cymopterus lemmonii
Carrot family (Apiaceae)

The rounded-flattened and fine cut odoriferous leaves mark this as a member of the Parsley Family. False Springparsley is widely distributed in the region, sometimes appearing in small scattered patches and often in very large numbers. It has a long blooming season, ranging from early spring in the foothills to late summer in . The species and its many forms make it a challenge to effectively classify. It has endured numerous name changes due to its morphological variability. The most widely accepted name, Cymopterus lemmonii, was given by James Dorn in 1977 for a specimen collected in the Huachuca Mountains in Arizona in 1887 by John Lemmon, a respected western United States collector. The name means "waved wing" and refers to the seeds.


©2008 Jerry Oldenettel and ©2008 Jerry Friedman

Description

, 3-18" tall, simply branched, sometimes with 1-2 stem leaves. Flowerheads are wide-rounded to flat-topped, umbrella-like clusters ( ) of yellow flowers. Leaves rise from base of plant on long , are most often , fine-cut fern-like with margins but may be long and narrow (). are pointed and as long or longer than the flower clusters. Seeds have well-developed to small . Plant has distinctive parsley odor.

Field Marks

Yellow umbrella-like flowers, finely-cut leaves and parsley smell.

© Al Schneider

An umbel is a collection of flowers on short stalks which spread from a common point, somewhat like umbrella ribs. The arrangement can vary from being flat-topped to almost spherical.

A leaf is compound when multiple leaflets are on the same stem.

A perennial plant lives and blooms for many years.

A herb is a plant whose stems die back to the ground in the winter.

alpine -- above the tree line. Thin soil, rocks, short growing season, frost, winter snow.

Bracts are modified leaves associated with a flower.

Involucre is the name given to the circle or spiral collection of bracts around a flower-cluster.

linear -- Long and very narrow like a blade of grass.

pinnate -- A compound leaf with two rows of leaflets.

lobe -- Being divided by clefts.

petiole -- the stalk of a leaf.

genus -- A subdivision of a botanical Family in which all members have a significant number of similar characteristics.

wing -- A maple seed has wings.

ribbed -- having prominent, narrow parallel protrusions that extend over most of its length or circumference.

leaflets -- Each little leaf-like thing in a compound leaf is a leaflet.

meadow -- Large grass and wildflower filled area with few, if any, trees.