Lomatium nudicaule(Pursh) C. & R.
Naked desert parsley, Indian Celery
Range: It grows on both sides of the Cascade
Mountains from southwest
Climate, elevation: Plants are frost hardy. Low
to moderate elevations
Local occurrence (where, how common): Common
Habitat preferences: Dry, sunny sites. Dry open or lightly wooded
areas. Mixed pine-oak
woodland-chaparral
Plant strategy type/successional stage: A deciduous perennial. This plant is self fertile and has hermaphrodite flowers and is pollinated by insects.
Associated Species: Ceanothus
cuneatus, Amelanchier
alnifolia, Rhus diversiloba, Arctostaphylos
viscida, Salix lasiolepis,
May be collected as: Seeds
Collection restrictions or guidelines: Collect seed/fruits
immediately prior to or when fruit is completely ripe and dry on plant from
mid-spring to mid summer
Seed germination: Best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame.
Seed life: Stored seed can be rather slow to
germinate.
Recommended seed storage conditions: Sow fresh
Propagation recommendations: Stored seed can
take up to 12 months to germinate.
Giving it a period of cold stratification reduces this time
significantly. The seedlings need to be
pricked out into individual pots as soon as they are large enough to handle,
and should be planted out into their permanent positions in the summer. Note: Better growth may be obtained during
the first year by avoiding transplanting and direct sowing into larger pots. Division may be possible
in spring or autumn.
Soil or medium requirements: Perfect drainage. Nutrients can range from sterile to fertile. Recommended potting mix: approximately
1:1:1:2 sand:pumice:peat moss:fir bark mixture.
Installation form: Containers or plugs
Recommended planting density: Sparse, does not naturally form dense stands
Care requirements after installed: Very slow to establish. Initial watering may be necessary but excessive watering encourages fungal growth
Normal rate of growth or spread; lifespan: 5 months active growing period. Long period of dormancy. Perennial clumper, slow to spread
Sources cited:
Jacobson,
Athur lee, Indian Celery in Seattle Tilth newsletter, 1989, http://www.arthurleej.com/a-indiancelery.html,
(Accessed 5/9/06)
Permaculture Information Web, http://permaculture.info/cgi-bin/eden?search=Lomatium+nudicaule, last updated 9/12/2004, (Accessed 5/9/06)
Plants
for a Future,
USDA,
PLANTS database. http://plants.usda.gov (Accessed 5/9/06)
Washington State Department of Natural Resources, http://www.dnr.wa.gov/nhp/refdesk/communities/pdf/fero-seri.pdf. (Accessed 5/7/06)
Data compiled by: Sierra Smith 5/9/06