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springparsley
Scientific Name: Cymopterus
Family: Apiaceae
Category: Dicot
Growth:
Duration:
Other Names:
Spring Parsley: A Botanical Overview
Spring parsley encompasses a variety of plants within the Cymopterus genus, primarily found in western North America. While the name "parsley" might suggest culinary use similar to the well-known herb, Petroselinum crispum, caution is advised, as some Cymopterus species are considered toxic to certain animals.
Considerations for Pets
- Several sources indicate that some species of spring parsley (Cymopterus) are considered toxic to dogs, cats, and horses.
- The ASPCA lists spring parsley as toxic, though this may be dose-dependent.
Considerations for Children
- Spring parsley plants often have finely divided leaves that resemble common parsley, which could potentially lead to accidental ingestion by children.
Nomenclature and Taxonomy
- Scientific Names: Various species within the genus Cymopterus, including Cymopterus watsonii, Cymopterus terebinthinus, Cymopterus deserticola, Cymopterus montanus, Cymopterus acaulis, Cymopterus longipes, Cymopterus purpureus, Cymopterus williamsii, and Cymopterus newberryi.
- Common Names: Spring parsley, desert cymopterus, turpentine spring-parsley, long-stalk spring-parsley, plains spring-parsley, snow spring-parsley, mountain spring parsley, Williams' spring-parsley, sweetroot spring parsley, desert spring parsley.
- Family: Apiaceae (also known as Umbelliferae), the Carrot or Parsley Family.
- Synonyms: Phellopterus montanus (for mountain spring parsley).
Distribution and Habitat
- Spring parsley species are primarily found in western and southwestern regions of the United States.
- Specific locations mentioned include the Great Salt Lake in Utah (Stansbury Island), Pikes Peak, Canyonlands National Park (The Needles District), Scott County in Kansas, and areas west of Hailey, Idaho (Kelly Mountain).
- Habitats include open woodlands, rolling foothills, and areas with sagebrush, pinyon pine, and well-drained soils.
Morphological Characteristics
- Spring parsley plants are typically perennial herbs that grow from taproots.
- Height ranges vary depending on the species, from 4-6 inches to 8-12 cm, and up to 10.4 inches (26 cm) for some species.
- Leaves are finely divided, resembling parsley.
- Flowers are small, and white, cream-colored, or yellow, arranged in umbrella-like clusters. Cymopterus purpureus has purple flowers.
- Some species, like turpentine spring-parsley (C. terebinthinus), have an anise-like smell.
Ecological Interactions
- Often found growing with sagebrush and pinyon pine.
Quirky Facts
- One source describes Cymopterus longipes as looking "like a crumpled doily" when it lies flat on the ground.
- Walking through patches of spring parsley can release a strong parsley-like smell.
Further Information
- The Wyoming Natural Diversity Database provides information on Cymopterus williamsii.