Lomatium nevadense var. parishii – “Nevada Biscuitroot”

Also Known As: Parish’s Biscuitroot
Family: Carrot (Apiaceae, aka Umbelliferae)
Bloom Period: Apr-Jul
Form: Perennial herb
Habitat: Gravelly soils and rocky slopes, and the “Pebble Plains”
Leaves: Pinnately-compound; basal
Translation: “Lomatium” is Greek for “bordered” and refers to the wings on the edges of the seeds; “nevadense” means “of Nevada”; “parishii” is named after W. F. and S. B. Parish, who were “the pioneer botanical collectors of southern California” from the late 1800’s to the 1920’s.
Native American Uses: The Lomatium genus included important food plants for Native Americans all across western North America, as is reflected in the common name, “Biscuitroot.” The Paiute ate the peeled roots fresh like radishes or cooked them.