Osmorhiza purpurea (J.M. Coult. & Rose) Suksd.
purple sweet-cicely (purple sweetroot)
Apiaceae
Introduction to Vascular Plants
purple sweet-cicely (purple sweetroot)
Apiaceae
Introduction to Vascular Plants
Species Information
General:
Perennial herb from a well-developed taproot, sometimes below a slightly branched stem-base; stems single, 20-70 cm tall, branching.
Leaves:
Basal and stem leaves deltoid in general outline, twice divided into 3's, leaflets coarsely toothed, 1-8 cm long, 0.5-4 cm wide, usually glabrous, yellowish-green; stem leaves reduced.
Flowers:
Inflorescence of loose compound umbels; flowers pink to purplish (sometimes greenish-white), several to many in 2-6 spreading heads; involucels absent.
Fruits:
Spindle-shaped, 8-13 mm long, bristly hairy, with constriction below the beaked tip, which is broader than tall.
Illustration
If more than one illustration is available for a species (e.g., separate illustrations were provided for two subspecies) then links to the separate images will be provided below. Note that individual subspecies or varietal illustrations are not always available.
Illustration Source: The Illustrated Flora of British Columbia
Ecology
Ecological Framework for Osmorhiza purpurea
The table below shows the species-specific information calculated from
original data (BEC database) provided by the BC Ministry of Forests and Range.
(Updated August, 2013)
The table below shows the species-specific information calculated from
original data (BEC database) provided by the BC Ministry of Forests and Range.
(Updated August, 2013)
| Site Information |
Value / Class |
||
|
Avg |
Min |
Max |
|
| Elevation
(metres) |
1123 | 3 | 2750 |
| Slope
Gradient (%) |
20 | 0 | 115 |
|
Aspect (degrees) |
300 | 2 | 360 |
| Soil
Moisture Regime (SMR) [0 - very xeric; 4 - mesic; 8 - hydric] |
4 | 0 | 8 |
| Modal
Nutrient Regime
Class |
D | ||
| #
of field plots species was recorded in: |
468 | ||
| Modal
BEC Zone Class |
ESSF | ||
|
All BEC Zones (# of stations/zone) species was recorded in |
AT(1), BG(3), BWBS(4), CDF(18), CWH(62), ESSF(205), ICH(50), IDF(14), MH(30), MS(28), SBS(37), SWB(1) | ||
|
Source:
Klinkenberg 2013
|
|||
Habitat and Range
Mesic to moist streambanks, meadows and open forests in the lowland, montane and subalpine zones; common throughout BC; N to AK, S to ID, MT and CA.Status Information
Synonyms
Synonyms and Alternate Names:
Osmorhiza chilensis var. purpurea (J.M. Coult. & Rose) B. Boivin
Osmorhiza leibergii (J.M. Coult. & Rose) Blankinship
Washingtonia purpurea J.M. Coult. & Rose