Desert Parsley
Lomatium dissectum
Family: Apiaceae (Carrot family)
Other Common Names: Carrotleaf Biscuitroot,
Chocolate-tips, Cough Root, Fernleaf Biscuitroot, Fernleaf Lomatium, Lepotaenia,
Leptotaenia, Lomatium dissectum
Flowers: umbels compound; flowers purple to maroon, less often yellow; inflorescence glabrous
Fruit: fruits sessile or on very short peduncles, with corky
thickened narrow wings, oblong-ovate to elliptic, glabrous
Leaves: most of the leaves are basal, cauline leaves few; foliage
generally more or less scaberulous, finely ternate-pinnately dissected; petiole
3 to 30 cm; blade 15 to 35 cm wide, triangular-ovate
Plant: perennial; robust plants, generally 50 to 150 cm tall;
several stems to many per plant. Traditionally the roots were split, dried and
used for food by the Okanagan and Thompson. The dried root was also pulverized
and applied to burns and wounds by the Thompson.
Habitat: open, often rocky slopes and dry meadows, lowlands to mid elevations
Distribution of species: chiefly west of the eastern base of the Cascades, British
Columbia to northern California and in northern Idaho
Distribution of genus: more or less 75 species: central and southern North America
Range: Western N. America - southwards from Alberta and British Columbia.
Habitat: Open, often rocky slopes and dry meadows, often on talus.
Fernleaf biscuitroot was widely employed medicinally by many native North American
Indian tribes who considered it to be a universal panacea and used it especially in
treating chest problems and skin complaints. This is an important native American
Pacific Northwest anti-viral herb. Works where other anti-virals fall short. Fresh
root (alcoholic) extract is best mode of administration. Lomatium was used, particularly
in the southwestern United States, during the influenza pandemic of 1917 with reportedly
good results. Although it is little, if at all, used in modern herbalism, but probably
warrants investigation.
The whole plant, but especially the root, is disinfectant, pectoral, salve, stomachic and tonic.
The dried root was used in the treatment of rheumatism,
stomach complaints, coughs, colds, hay fever, bronchitis, influenza, pneumonia
and tuberculosis. The root was burnt and the smoke inhaled in the treatment of
asthma and other chest complaints, it was also used as a herbal steam bath for
treating chest complaints. The root was used to make a drink that was taken as a
tonic to help people in a weakened condition gain weight. A poultice of the
peeled and crushed roots has been applied to open cuts, sores, boils, bruises
and rheumatic joints. The root has been soaked in water and then used as an
antidandruff wash for the hair.
An infusion of the leaves and stems has been used as a tonic.
The root oil has been applied as a salve to sores and also
used as an eye wash in the treatment of trachoma.
Root - cooked. Resinous and balsamic. The root can be
dried and ground into a powder and then be mixed with cereal flours or added as
a flavoring to soups etc. The roots have been boiled to make a refreshing and
nutritious drink.
The pulverized root has been burnt as an incense.
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