Lassen parsley facts for kids

Lomatium ravenii is a type of flowering plant. It belongs to the carrot family. People often call it Lassen parsley or Raven's lomatium. This plant grows naturally in the Great Basin area of the United States. You can find it in places like Nevada and California. It likes to grow in sagebrush areas and other high plateau habitats. It can even grow in soils that are a bit alkaline.

What Does Lassen Parsley Look Like?

Lomatium ravenii is a perennial herb. This means it's a plant that lives for more than two years. It usually grows to be about 5 to 40 centimeters long. The plant has a gray-green color and is covered in tiny hairs.

Roots and Stems

This plant grows from a special root system. It has a main taproot that goes deep into the ground. It also has a tuber, which is like a small, swollen part of the root that stores food. Most of the time, you won't see a main stem above the ground. Instead, the leaves and flowers grow directly from the ground level.

Leaves and Flowers

The leaves of Lassen parsley are quite interesting. They are divided into many smaller parts. These parts are then divided again into even smaller, oval or knob-shaped pieces.

When the plant blooms, it produces a cluster of flowers called an inflorescence. This cluster is a hairy umbel, which looks like an umbrella shape. The flowers are usually white, but some might have a purple tint. Inside the flowers, you'll see dark anthers, which are parts of the flower that hold pollen.