Gamote, Widewing springparsley
Cymopterus purpurascens

Family: Apiaceae

What it is like

Cymopterus purpurascens is a PERENNIAL growing to 0.3 m (1ft) by 0.3 m (1ft in) at a medium rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 7. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils, prefers well-drained soil and can grow in nutritionally poor soil. Suitable pH: neutral soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers dry soil and can tolerate drought.

Height (m): 0.3

Where it is found

Found on shrubby slopes, from 4,500-7,500 ft (1372-2286 m).

Native to the western United States, including the desert regions.

Conservation Status:

Countries/locations it is found in

USA: Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah.

How it is used

Food

Rating: 4

Root. The root has an excellent sweet, tender taste similar to parsnips.

Root: includes bulbs, corms, tubers, rhizomes etc.

Medicine

Rating: 0

Other

Rating: 1

Invertebrates shelter: beneficial for insects and other arthropods. Nectary: provides nectar or pollen for beneficial insects.

Food Forest: Plants for Edible Forest Gardens and Food Forests.

How it is grown

A perennial herb flowering March-May. For polyculture design as well as the above-ground architecture (form - tree, shrub etc. and size shown above) information on the habit and root pattern is also useful and given here if available. The plant growth habit is a clumper with limited spread. The root pattern is a tap root similar to a carrot going directly down.

Propagating it: Seed. Root.

Best place to grow:

Habit: Perennial

Hardiness: 6-9

Growth: Medium

Soil: Light (sandy), medium, heavy (clay)

Shade: No shade

Moisture: Dry

Things to keep in mind

Its other names

Local names

Widewing springparsley

Synonyms

C. montanus var. purpurascens A.Gray. C. utahensis M.E.Jones. C. utahensis var. eastwoodae M.E.Jones. C. utahensis var. monocephalus M.E.Jones. Phellopterus purpurascens (A. Gray) J.M. Coult. & Rose. Phellopterus purpurascens var. eastwoodiae (M.E. Jones) J.M. Coult. & Rose. Phellopterus utahensis (M.E. Jones) Wooton & Standl.