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gray springparsley
Scientific Name: Cymopterus cinerarius
Family: Apiaceae
Category: Dicot
Growth: Forb/herb
Duration: Perennial
Other Names:
Gray's Spring Parsley (Cymopterus cinerarius)
Gray's Spring Parsley, scientifically known as Cymopterus cinerarius, is also referred to as Gray's Desert Parsley or simply gray springparsley.
Considerations for Pets
- Other spring parsley varieties (Cymopterus watsonii) are noted as being toxic to dogs, cats, and horses.
Considerations for Children
- Other spring parsley varieties (Cymopterus watsonii) are noted as being toxic to dogs, cats, and horses.
- Leaves have rounded teeth.
Taxonomy and Nomenclature
- Scientific Name: Cymopterus cinerarius
- Synonyms:
- Cymopterus montanus - (Nutt.)Torr.&A.Gray
- Lomatium grayi (referred to as Gray's Desert Parsley)
- Family: Apiaceae (Parsley Family)
Distribution and Habitat
- Gray's Desert Parsley is found in shrub-steppe and east-side forest habitats.
- Specific locations include Nisqually John Canyon, Salt Spring Island, and Galiano Island.
- Native to the American Southwest, with specimens collected by botanist Asa Gray.
Morphological Characteristics
- It is a low-growing herbaceous perennial.
- Height ranges from 6 to 14 inches.
- The leaves are light gray-green and somewhat fleshy, sometimes described as gray wooly.
- It has spreading stems from a long taproot.
- Flowers are very tiny but grow together in a rounded clump (umbel).
Ecological Role
- Milfoil lomatium makes it an important species for early spring.
- Gray's biscuitroot (Lomatium grayi) is a host plant for the rare Indra butterfly.
Quirky Facts
- The plant is named for the botanist Asa Gray.
- At least two genera and several species of the Parsley Family confound botanists.
- Gray's Desert-parsley flowering time: early spring.