Lomatium austiniae
Plummer's lomatium
(c) Jim Morefield, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Apiaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Lomatium austiniae (Plummer's lomatium) is a native California herb in the Apiaceae family, recognized by fused bractlets forming 1-sided scarious cup.
Plummer's lomatium is a California native perennial found in the northern Sierra Nevada, Great Basin, and northern high Sierra Nevada in rocky places, sagebrush, and pine woodland at elevations of 1,500 to 2,300 meters. Flowering from May to June, this plant produces light yellow flowers in umbels with 10 to 25 unequal rays spreading up to 7.5 centimeters long. Growing 1.2 to 3.5 decimeters tall with a slender taproot, it develops a compact form with leaves crowded at the base. Its finely dissected leaves are ternate-pinnate, with 3 to 7 millimeter linear to oblong segments, creating a delicate grayish appearance. The fruit is 9 to 13 millimeters long, with oblong to oblong-ovate shape and narrow wings.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 30 sympatric species; distinguished by fused bractlets forming 1-sided scarious cup
Habitat and range
Habitat: Rocky places, sagebrush, pine woodland
Elevation: 1500-2300 m
Outside California: western Nevada
Bloom period
Lomatium austiniae blooms May-Jun.
How to tell it apart
vs Tauschia: Lomatium fruits have prominent marginal wings; Tauschia fruits lack wings or have only slight ribs.; vs Sanicula: Lomatium has typical umbrella-shaped flower clusters; Sanicula has dense ball-like flower heads with hooked bristles.; vs Cymopterus: Lomatium grows upright with a stem; Cymopterus is stemless and grows flat to the ground.; vs Conium: Lomatium grows in dry natural habitats; Conium has purple-spotted stems and grows in moist disturbed areas.; vs Daucus: Lomatium fruits are flat with thin wings; Daucus fruits are cylindrical with spiny bristles.
Frequently asked questions
Is Lomatium austiniae native to California?
Yes. Lomatium austiniae is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Lomatium austiniae bloom?
Lomatium austiniae blooms May-Jun.
What plant family does Lomatium austiniae belong to?
Lomatium austiniae is in the Apiaceae family, genus Lomatium.
What habitat does Lomatium austiniae grow in?
Lomatium austiniae grows in Rocky places, sagebrush, pine woodland.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Lomatium bicolor var. leptocarpum — Slender fruited lomatium
- Lomatium californicum — California lomatium
- Lomatium canbyi — Canby's lomatium
- Lomatium caruifolium — Alkali desertparsley
- Lomatium caruifolium var. caruifolium — Alkali desertparsley
- Lomatium caruifolium var. denticulatum — Alkali desertparsley
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.