Watson's Desertparsley

Lomatium watsonii is a low growing herb with leaves arising directly from the crown of a thickened taproot (acaulescent). Each green leaf is multiply divided, with narrow terminal segments from 1 to 5 mm long. The leaves are usually densely covered with short white hairs. The tiny cream to yellow flowers are presented in a compound umbel atop a stout red to green stem, with broad bractlets (often partially fused) at the base of each secondary umbel. The flower stem is nearly prostrate to elevated at a moderate angle. The fruit is usually covered with very short hairs and is ovate and 6-7 mm long.

Lomatium watsonii is found in mountains on the east side of the Cascade crest in Washington and northern Oregon, often on exposed mountain tops or ridges in rocky soil.