# Ternate Desert-parsley (*Lomatium triternatum*)

The Ternate Desert-parsley is a unique plant with beautiful yellow flowers. It grows in dry areas and has a special shape that helps it survive in the desert.

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Habitat:** Desert

![Ternate Desert-parsley](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Lomatium_triternatum_9702.JPG&width=800)

Photo: Walter Siegmund (talk), CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lomatium_triternatum_9702.JPG)

## Appearance

The Ternate Desert-parsley has slender, upright stems topped with flat-topped clusters of tiny, bright yellow flowers. Its distinctive gray-green leaves are finely divided into three parts, resembling a bird's foot.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Plantae
- **Phylum:** Tracheophyta
- **Class:** Magnoliopsida
- **Order:** Apiales
- **Family:** Apiaceae
- **Genus:** Lomatium

## Interesting facts

- After blooming, it makes cool, flat, winged seeds that float away!
- It belongs to the amazing carrot family, sharing genes with your favorite veggies!
- Its tasty roots were a key food for Native Americans in spring!
- The plant’s name, \*triternatum\*, means its leaves are divided into three sections, three times!

## Special abilities

- **Drought Buster:** Ternate Desert-parsley has a deep taproot that allows it to survive in dry desert conditions by reaching underground water sources.
- **Pollen Powerhouse:** Its bright yellow, umbrella-like flowers act as a vibrant beacon, attracting many tiny insects for successful pollination.
- **Root Reserve:** The Ternate Desert-parsley stores energy and nutrients in its thick, starchy taproot, helping it endure harsh dry spells.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 20-100 cm
- **Spread:** 15-30 cm
- **Flower Size:** 0.2-0.5 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Spring
- **Edible:** Yes
- **Toxicity:** None
- **Lifecycle:** Perennial
- **Pollination Method:** Insect

## Ecological connections

- **Pollinates:** Honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Collects nectar and pollen from its tiny yellow flowers.
- **Pollinates:** Western bumblebee (*Bombus occidentalis*) — Bumblebees visit the flower clusters for vital sustenance.
- **Eaten by:** [Mule Deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/mule-deer) (*Odocoileus hemionus*) — Mule deer may browse on its foliage, especially in early spring.

## Traits

- [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle.
- [Spring Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spring-blooming): Spring blooming plants produce their flowers during the spring season, often signifying the end of winter and the start of new growth.
- [Medicinal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/medicinal): Medicinal plants possess chemical compounds that can be used for therapeutic purposes to treat illnesses or maintain health.
- [Drought Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/drought-tolerant): Drought-tolerant plants can survive and flourish in conditions with limited water availability.
- [Edible](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/edible): Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption.
- [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.
- [Endangered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/endangered): Endangered status indicates a species is at a very high risk of extinction in the wild in the near future.

## Collections

- [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

Always look but don't touch plants unless you know they are safe.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Ternate 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 Ternate Desert-parsley?

20-100 cm

### How wide does Ternate Desert-parsley spread?

15-30 cm

### How big are the flowers on Ternate Desert-parsley?

0.2-0.5 cm

### When does Ternate Desert-parsley bloom?

Spring

### Is Ternate Desert-parsley edible?

Yes

### Is Ternate Desert-parsley toxic?

None

### What is Ternate Desert-parsley's lifecycle?

Perennial

## 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*)

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Source: [Ternate Desert-parsley: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/ternate-desert-parsley)