Lomatium ravenii var. paiutense
Paiute lomatium
(c) Curtis Drake, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Curtis Drake · licence
Family: Apiaceae · Type: Perennial · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 2B.3
Lomatium ravenii var. paiutense (Paiute lomatium) is a native California perennial in the Apiaceae family, recognized by small size, hairy leaves, and non-persistent leaf bases.
Paiute lomatium is a rare (CNPS 2B.3) California native perennial found in the eastern Lassen and southeastern Modoc Counties in sagebrush and pinyon/juniper woodland at elevations of 880 to 1,700 meters. Flowering from April to June, this plant produces small flowers in delicate umbrella-like clusters. Growing 3 to 15 centimeters tall with slender, low-growing stems, it has a distinctive compact form adapted to alkaline habitats. Its finely divided leaves are densely hairy, with tiny elliptic to obovate leaf segments measuring just 1 to 3 millimeters long. The plant's diminutive size and intricate leaf structure make it a subtle but remarkable component of high desert landscapes.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 19 sympatric species; distinguished by small size, hairy leaves, and non-persistent leaf bases
Habitat and range
Habitat: Flats, slopes, ridges, generally +- alkaline soils, sagebrush, pinyon/juniper woodland
Elevation: 880-1700 m
Outside California: to Oregon, Idaho, western Utah
Bloom period
Lomatium ravenii var. paiutense blooms Apr-Jun.
Conservation status
CNPS 2B.3
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 ravenii var. paiutense native to California?
Yes. Lomatium ravenii var. paiutense is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Lomatium ravenii var. paiutense bloom?
Lomatium ravenii var. paiutense blooms Apr-Jun.
What plant family does Lomatium ravenii var. paiutense belong to?
Lomatium ravenii var. paiutense is in the Apiaceae family, genus Lomatium.
Is Lomatium ravenii var. paiutense rare or endangered?
Lomatium ravenii var. paiutense carries California Rare Plant Rank 2B.3, state rank S2?.
What habitat does Lomatium ravenii var. paiutense grow in?
Lomatium ravenii var. paiutense grows in Flats, slopes, ridges, generally +- alkaline soils, sagebrush, pinyon/juniper woodland.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos · CDFW CNDDB
Last updated 2026-09-30
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.