Common name:
Rocky mountain hemlockparsley
Scientific name:
Conioselinum scopulorum
Range:
The Four Corners states, and small areas of states to the north
Height:
Between 12 and 40 inches
Habitat:
Moist woodland and valleys; 6,000 to 12,000 feet
Leaves:
Alternate, up to 8 inches long, divided into 7, 9 or 11 leaflets, the lower pairs further divided
Season:
July to September
One identifying feature of conioselinum scopulorum is the presence of relatively long, linear, pointed bractlets beneath the flowers (3 to 6 per umbellet), often projecting out beyond. The base of the compound umbel may also have a few similar bracts. Buds are often pinkish, the flowers pure white. Stems are stout and unbranched, growing vertically upwards. Leaves are divided up to three times into coarsely toothed leaflets. The leaf petiole is similar in length to the blade - up to 8 inches. Leaves and stems are hairless. Leaf bases are conspicuously sheathed.
The inflorescence is a compact, flat-topped cluster of between 9 and 15 umbellets, on ribbed, green stalks (rays) at most 2 inches long. Each umbellet contains around a dozen small white flowers. Fruits are green, and strongly ribbed.