Oreonana clementis
Clemens' mountain parsley
(c) Matt Berger, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Apiaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Oreonana clementis (Clemens' mountain parsley) is a native California herb in the Apiaceae family, recognized by size, leaf dimensions, and sepal color.
Clemens' mountain parsley is a California native perennial found in southern Sierra Nevada Mountains on rocky ridges at elevations of 1,500 to 4,000 meters. Flowering from July to August, this plant produces delicate white flowers with purple anthers in small spherical umbels 1 to 3 centimeters wide. Growing as a compact gray-hairy plant just 3 to 8 centimeters tall, it develops spreading stems with distinctive leaf sheaths. Its leaves have bladeless sheaths 0.5 to 2 centimeters long and ovate blades with tiny segments 1 to 3 millimeters long, creating a fine, intricate foliage structure. The fruit is 3 to 4 millimeters long and nearly glabrous to slightly hairy.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 1 sympatric species; distinguished by size, leaf dimensions, and sepal color
Habitat and range
Habitat: Rocky ridges
Elevation: 1500-4000 m
California counties: Fresno, Tulare, Inyo, Kern
Bloom period
Oreonana clementis blooms Jul-Aug.
How to tell it apart
vs Lomatium: Oreonana is densely woolly gray; Lomatium is green with smoother foliage.; vs Conium: Oreonana forms rocky alpine cushions; Conium is a tall roadside weed.; vs Petroselinum: Oreonana is woolly alpine native; Petroselinum is smooth urban escape.; vs Osmorhiza: Oreonana is a tiny woolly cushion; Osmorhiza grows tall in woodland shade.; vs Tauschia: Oreonana is densely woolly; Tauschia has smoother green foliage.
Frequently asked questions
Is Oreonana clementis native to California?
Yes. Oreonana clementis is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Oreonana clementis bloom?
Oreonana clementis blooms Jul-Aug.
Where in California does Oreonana clementis grow?
Oreonana clementis occurs in Fresno, Tulare, Inyo, Kern, at elevations of 1500-4000 m.
What plant family does Oreonana clementis belong to?
Oreonana clementis is in the Apiaceae family, genus Oreonana.
What habitat does Oreonana clementis grow in?
Oreonana clementis grows in Rocky ridges.
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.