Lomatium shevockii

Owens peak lomatium, Owens Peak Lomatium

Family: Apiaceae · Type: perennial · Native

Conservation status: CNPS 1B.2

Owens peak lomatium is a rare (CNPS 1B.2) California native perennial found in southern Sierra Nevada Mountains in Kern County on rocky slopes, talus, conifer forest, and pine/oak woodland at elevations of 2,200 to 2,500 meters. Flowering from April to May, this plant produces purple flowers in delicate umbels with 5 to 9 spreading rays. Growing 4 to 12 centimeters tall with an elongated taproot and no visible stem, it appears low and compact on rocky terrain. Its single leaf is finely divided with 3 to 5 ovate leaflets that are pinnately sharp-lobed, creating an intricate, lacy appearance. The fruit is 8 to 10 millimeters long, widely elliptical, with narrow wings and distinctive oil tubes along its ribs.

Habitat: Rocky slopes, talus, conifer forest, pine/oak woodland

Bloom period: Apr-May

Elevation: 2200-2500 m

Bioregions: s SNH (Kern Co.).

California counties: Kern

Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Jepson eFlora, Cal-IPC, and more.