Common lomatium facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Common lomatium |
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Selineae
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L. utriculatum
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| Lomatium utriculatum (Nutt. ex Torr. & A.Gray) J.M.Coult. & Rose
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Lomatium utriculatum, also known as common lomatium or spring gold, is a type of flowering plant. It belongs to the carrot family. This plant grows naturally in western North America. You can find it from British Columbia all the way down to California. It likes to grow in many different places, including chaparral areas and the Sierra Nevada mountains.
About the Plant
Lomatium utriculatum is a plant that comes back every year. It's called a perennial herb. It can grow from about half a meter (1.5 feet) up to 1.5 meters (5 feet) tall. The plant grows from a thin taproot, which is like a main root that goes deep into the ground.
Leaves and Flowers
The leaves of this plant grow from the bottom, near the ground. They also grow along the middle and upper parts of the stem. Each leaf is usually divided into many smaller, thin parts. These parts look like tiny lines. Leaves higher up on the stem have special parts called sheaths.
The flowers of Lomatium utriculatum grow in a special shape called an umbel. This looks like a cluster of small flowers that all come from a central point, like the spokes of an umbrella. The flowers are yellow and their "rays" (the parts that spread out) can be up to 12 centimeters long.
Traditional Uses
Long ago, many Native American groups used this plant. They used it as a food source. They also used it as a medicinal remedy to help with different health issues.
