Lomatium dissectum

Lomatium dissectum is a species of flowering plant in the carrot family known by the common name fernleaf biscuitroot. It is native to much of western North America, where it grows in varied habitat. It is found in the eastern slopes of the Cascade Range, Rocky Mountains, Klamath Mountains, eastern Transverse Ranges and the Sierra Nevada in California.

Lomatium dissectum
Lomatium dissectum in Wenas Wildlife Area
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Plantae
(unranked):
Angiosperms
(unranked):
Eudicots
(unranked):
Asterids
Order:
Apiales
Family:
Apiaceae
Tribe:
Selineae
Genus:
Lomatium
Species:
L. dissectum
Binomial name
Lomatium dissectum
Lomatium dissectum var. multifidum mature seeds
Lomatium dissectum var. dissectum green seeds

Lomatium dissectum is a perennial herb reaching up to 1.4 meters tall, growing from a thick taproot. The leaves are mostly attached near the base of the plant, spreading with petioles up to 30 centimeters long and large blades divided into many small, narrow segments. The inflorescence is an umbel of many small yellow or reddish flowers, each cluster on a ray up to 10 centimeters long. The fruits resemble pumpkin seeds.

There are two varieties of Lomatium dissectum- both of which can be either yellow or purple in color when in bloom, but are distinguished by longer or shorter stalks on the fruit.[1]

A Lomatium dissectum root extract completely inhibited the cytopathic effects of rotavirus.[2] It also showed antibiotic activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Mycobacterium avium.[3]

References
  1. http://linnet.geog.ubc.ca/Atlas/Atlas.aspx?sciname=Lomatium%20dissectum
  2. McCutcheon A.R., Roberts T.E., Gibbons E., Ellis S.M., Babiuk L.A., Hancock R.E.W., Towers G.H.N (1995), "Antiviral screening of British Columbian medicinal plants", Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 49 (2): 101–110, doi:10.1016/0378-8741(95)90037-3, PMC 7131204CS1 maint: uses authors parameter (link)
  3. McCutcheon A.R., Stokes W.R., Thorson L.M., Ellis S.M., Hancock R.E.W., Towers G.H.N. (1997), "Anti-mycobacterial screening of British Columbian medicinal plants", International Journal of Pharmacognosy, 35 (2): 77–83, doi:10.1076/phbi.35.2.77.13284CS1 maint: uses authors parameter (link)


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