Latin Name: Lomatium triternatum
Common Name(s): Broad-fruit Lomatium
Family: Apiaceae
Size: tends to stay fairly low to ground, frequently staying around a foot tall
Life Cycle: Perennial
Distribution: Western North America, from California north the British Columbia and as far east as Arizona. Found in diverse habitats and soil types.
Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade
USDA Zone: at least 4 to 9
Drought Tolerance: High. If it gets too dry it just dies to the ground and waits for next year. Seedlings might need some coddling to get through their first year, however, especially if transplanted.
Fire Risk: Quite low and survives well in environments that burn regularly. Foliage dies to the ground by mid-summer.
Cultivation Notes
This species is one of the best biscuitroots for the garden and adapts well to a garden environment. It is hardy, compact, and adaptable. The yellow flowers are very attractive to insects. It does well in many soil types and, though it prefers full sun, can handle light shade, but it does not deal well with being waterlogged (like most other biscuitroots).
Ecology
The beautiful yellow flowers blossom from April to July and are highly appealing to pollinators, just like many other plants in the carrot family. They are especially attractive to parasitic wasps, flies, and small bees. Additionally, some lepidopteran larvae consume the foliage, including the larvae of swallowtails.
Uses
Lomatium triternatum has a wide variety of medical and edible uses. I generally don’t talk much about the medical uses of the plant unless there is actual scientific evidence. The plant is edible, from the seeds to the roots. The seeds and leaves have an herbal flavor and can be used as a garnish or as a spice. The root is edible but rather small.
Propagation
Lomatium species are best propagated by seed. Seed for this species is widely available but needs to be fresh to germinate well. Protect the seeds from birds and plant in the fall, as they need stratification. Germination is slow and erratic and the seeds are short lived, so plant fresh seed and plant them the first fall you receive them.