Lomatium marginatum var. marginatum
Butte desertparsley
(c) Ken-ichi Ueda, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Ken-ichi Ueda · licence
Family: Apiaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Lomatium marginatum var. marginatum (Butte desertparsley) is a native California herb in the Apiaceae family, recognized by yellow corolla and shorter pedicels.
Butte desertparsley is a California native perennial found in the Klamath Ranges, northern California Rocky Forest, northern Coast Ranges, northern Sierra Nevada Foothills, northern Sierra Nevada, and Sacramento Valley, growing on serpentine slopes in chaparral at elevations of 250 to 1,000 meters. Flowering from March to May, this plant produces yellow flowers in delicate umbrella-like clusters with rays 1.5 to 10 centimeters long and individual flower stalks 2 to 6 millimeters long. Growing with slender stems emerging from a taproot, it forms low-spreading clumps characteristic of desert parsleys. Its finely divided leaves are deeply dissected into narrow, thread-like segments, creating a lacy, intricate foliage pattern typical of the Lomatium genus. The plant's adaptation to serpentine soils and compact growth form make it well-suited to its challenging high-elevation habitat.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 32 sympatric species; distinguished by yellow corolla and shorter pedicels
Habitat and range
Habitat: Serpentine slopes, generally chaparral
Elevation: 250-1000 m
California counties: Nevada, Shasta, Butte, Yuba, Tehama, El Dorado, Mariposa, Calaveras, Fresno, Napa, Lake, Sacramento, Solano
Bloom period
Lomatium marginatum var. marginatum blooms Mar-May.
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 marginatum var. marginatum native to California?
Yes. Lomatium marginatum var. marginatum is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Lomatium marginatum var. marginatum bloom?
Lomatium marginatum var. marginatum blooms Mar-May.
Where in California does Lomatium marginatum var. marginatum grow?
Lomatium marginatum var. marginatum occurs in Nevada, Shasta, Butte, Yuba, Tehama, El Dorado, Mariposa, Calaveras and other counties, at elevations of 250-1000 m.
What plant family does Lomatium marginatum var. marginatum belong to?
Lomatium marginatum var. marginatum is in the Apiaceae family, genus Lomatium.
What habitat does Lomatium marginatum var. marginatum grow in?
Lomatium marginatum var. marginatum grows in Serpentine slopes, generally chaparral.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
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.