Lomatium nevadense var. nevadense
Nevada biscuitroot
(c) Joe Decruyenaere, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · licence
Family: Apiaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Lomatium nevadense var. nevadense (Nevada biscuitroot) is a native California herb in the Apiaceae family, recognized by white corolla and hairy ovary/fruit.
Nevada biscuitroot is a California native perennial found in the northern Sierra Nevada Mountains, Great Basin, and desert mountains in sagebrush and woodland habitats at elevations of 1,500 to 3,000 meters. Flowering from April to July, this plant produces small white to yellowish flowers in delicate umbels. Growing with slender stems 15 to 40 centimeters tall, it forms a compact, low-growing herb with finely divided foliage. Its leaves are intricately 2 to 3-pinnately dissected, creating a feathery, lacy appearance with multiple narrow segments. The fruit is characterized by dense, fine hairs covering its surface.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 27 sympatric species; distinguished by white corolla and hairy ovary/fruit
Habitat and range
Habitat: Sagebrush, woodland
Elevation: 1500-3000 m
California counties: San Bernardino, Inyo, Modoc, Lassen, Mono, Kern, Shasta, Alpine, Placer, Nevada, Tuolumne, Plumas, Siskiyou, Sierra
Outside California: to Oregon, Utah, Arizona
Bloom period
Lomatium nevadense var. nevadense blooms Apr-Jul.
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 nevadense var. nevadense native to California?
Yes. Lomatium nevadense var. nevadense is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Lomatium nevadense var. nevadense bloom?
Lomatium nevadense var. nevadense blooms Apr-Jul.
Where in California does Lomatium nevadense var. nevadense grow?
Lomatium nevadense var. nevadense occurs in San Bernardino, Inyo, Modoc, Lassen, Mono, Kern, Shasta, Alpine and other counties, at elevations of 1500-3000 m.
What plant family does Lomatium nevadense var. nevadense belong to?
Lomatium nevadense var. nevadense is in the Apiaceae family, genus Lomatium.
What habitat does Lomatium nevadense var. nevadense grow in?
Lomatium nevadense var. nevadense grows in Sagebrush, woodland.
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.