# Foothill desert-parsley (*Lomatium utriculatum*) Foothill desert-parsley is a special plant that grows in dry areas. It has pretty yellow flowers that look like tiny umbrellas and can be found in the foothills of mountains. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 1 - **Habitat:** Desert ![Foothill desert-parsley](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Lomatium_utriculatum_6416.JPG&width=800) Photo: Walter Siegmund (talk), CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lomatium_utriculatum_6416.JPG) ## Appearance The Foothill desert-parsley has delicate clusters of tiny bright yellow flowers atop slender, branched stems. Its leaves are finely divided, fern-like, and green, forming a low basal rosette. This feathery, airy appearance helps it stand out against dry, rocky soils. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Apiales - **Family:** Apiaceae - **Genus:** Lomatium ## Interesting facts - Even its scientific name, Lomatium, describes its distinctive seeds! - Indigenous people traditionally ate the roots and used parts for medicine. - Its flat-topped flower clusters are called umbels, like tiny nature's umbrellas! - The seeds have papery wings, helping them fly far away on the wind. ## Special abilities - **Root Power:** Foothill desert-parsley has a deep taproot that helps it store water, allowing it to survive long dry periods in the desert. - **Scent Shield:** It produces a strong, characteristic aroma from its leaves that might deter some hungry animals from munching on it. - **Spring Sprinter:** Foothill desert-parsley can sprout and bloom very early in spring, completing its life cycle before the desert heat becomes too intense. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 10-40 cm - **Spread:** 15-30 cm - **Flower Size:** 0.2-0.5 cm - **Bloom Season:** Spring - **Edible:** Yes - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Annual - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** Western Bumblebee (*Bombus occidentalis*) — Its tiny flowers provide nectar and pollen for early spring bees. - **Eaten by:** [Mule Deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/mule-deer) (*Odocoileus hemionus*) — Deer browse on its leaves and stems when other food is scarce. - **Eaten by:** [Deer Mouse](https://www.snappit.app/explore/deer-mouse) (*Peromyscus maniculatus*) — Small rodents may consume the nutritious seeds of the plant. ## Traits - [Aromatic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aromatic): Aromatic plants produce and emit fragrant volatile organic compounds, often for defense or to attract pollinators. - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Biennial](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/biennial): Biennial plants complete their life cycle over two growing seasons, typically forming foliage in the first year and flowering/seeding in the second. - [Cluster Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/cluster-flower): Cluster flowers are inflorescences where individual flowers are arranged closely together on a common stem. - [Fragrant Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense. - [Drought Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/drought-tolerant): Drought-tolerant plants can survive and flourish in conditions with limited water availability. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Desert](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/desert): Desert habitats are arid regions characterized by extremely low precipitation and often extreme temperatures, supporting specialized flora and fauna. - [Mountain](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/mountain): This habitat trait identifies species found in mountainous regions, characterized by high elevation, steep slopes, and varying climate zones. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Do not touch plants without asking an adult, as some plants can be prickly or cause allergies. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Foothill desert-parsley? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is Foothill desert-parsley? 10-40 cm ### How wide does Foothill desert-parsley spread? 15-30 cm ### How big are the flowers on Foothill desert-parsley? 0.2-0.5 cm ### When does Foothill desert-parsley bloom? Spring ### Is Foothill desert-parsley edible? Yes ### Is Foothill desert-parsley toxic? None ### What is Foothill desert-parsley's lifecycle? Annual ## Where to spot - [Agate Desert](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/agate-desert) — Oregon, US · Nature Reserve - [Koksilah River Provincial Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/koksilah-river-provincial-park) — British Columbia, CA · State Park - [Mount Wells Regional Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/mount-wells-regional-park) — British Columbia, CA · Park - [Sooke Mountain Provincial Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/sooke-mountain-provincial-park) — British Columbia, CA · State Park [View all places to see Foothill desert-parsley](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/foothill-desert-parsley) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Foothill desert-parsley: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/foothill-desert-parsley)