E-Flora BC: Electronic Atlas of the Flora of British Columbia

Lomatium papilioniferum J.A. Alexander & W. Whaley
butterfly bearing lomatium
Apiaceae

Introduction to Vascular Plants

© Ryan Batten  Email the photographer   (Photo ID #23876)

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Distribution of Lomatium papilioniferum
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Introduction

Butterfly bearing lomatium is one of ten species of Lomatium found in British Columbia. It is a tap-rooted perennial species with finely dissected blue-green leaves and the typical flat-topped flower cluster of this genus. Flowers are yellow. Like other Lomatium species, it shows preference for stony ground and shallow soils. It is a spring-flowering (April in BC), summer dormant species. Lifespan is reported as 5-7 years (various sources).

Species Information

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General:
Malodorous perennial herb from a long, stout taproot below a branching stem-base which is often covered by the dead leaves of the previous year; stems several, glabrous, 15-50 cm tall.
Leaves:
Mostly basal, short rough-hairy, very finely dissected, with numerous, very narrow, often subterete ultimate segments that lie in numerous planes to form a thick mat.
Flowers:
Inflorescence of compound umbels; flowers yellow; spokes of the umbel elongate unequally, 3.5-10 cm long; involucels well-developed.
Fruits:
Elliptic, 8-15 mm long, glabrous, lateral wings 1/3 - 1/2 as wide as the body.

Source: The Illustrated Flora of British Columbia

Habitat / Range

Dry rocky or open slopes in the lowland zone; rare in SW BC, known only from Galiano Island and Saltspring Island; S to WY, CO, NV and OR.

Source: The Illustrated Flora of British Columbia

Synonyms and Alternate Names

Lomatium grayi (J.M. Coult. & Rose) J.M. Coutl. & Rose

Taxonomic and Nomenclatural Links

Additional Photo Sources

General References