Bigseed Biscuitroot, Long-fruited prairie parsley
Lomatium macrocarpum

Family: Apiaceae

What it is like

A herb in the carrot family. The roots are thick and tuberous. It is a low squat plant. It grows 10-50 cm high. The stems are very short. The leaves are alternate and fine divided like parsley. They are blue-green and have fine hairs. The flowers are small and yellow. There are many flowers in a compound group. The fruit is dry and like a nut. They occur in dense flat clusters. Possibly now Peucedanum macrocarpum

Where it is found

It is a temperate plant. It grows on dry open hillsides. It suits hardiness zone 5.

Countries/locations it is found in

Canada, North America, USA

How it is used for food

The roots are eaten raw. They are also dried and ground and made into cakes. Tea is prepared from the leaves and flowers. The seeds are eaten raw or roasted. They are also dried and ground into flour. They can be dried and stored for future use.

Edible parts

Root, seeds

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Desert parsley, Haapi

Synonyms

Cogswellia macrocarpa M. E. Jones; Ferula macrocarpa Hook, & Arn.;