Cymopterus acaulis var. fendleri Synonym: Cymopterus fendleri Family: Apiaceae (A Utah Flora - Umbelliferae) - Carrot or Parsley Family Perennial herbs from taproots; some strongly aromatic; 2”to 10.8” (5 to 27 cm) tall Leaves: basal (or basal and 1 to few cauline mostly on the lower half of the stems); compound Flowers: 5 petals; 5 sepals or lacking; small flowers in clusters (compound umbel); 5 stamens; 1 pistil; 2 styles; petals white, yellow, or purple, 6 to 9 rays, rays 0.04” to 0.52” (1 to 13 mm) long Pollinators: insects; self-fertile Fruits: schizocarp; flat and wide with lateral wings – splits into 2 halves, each 1 seeded Blooms in Arches National Park: March, April, May Habitat in Arches National Park: desert shrub and pinyon-juniper communities; often grows on sandy soil Location seen: Windows, Fiery Furnace, Broken Arch trail, outside Arches National Park in Grandstaff Canyon Other: The genus name, “Cymopterus”, is from the Greek “cyma” which means “wave” and “pteron” which means “wing”, referring to its fruit. The species name, “acaulis”, means “without a stem”; the variety name, “fendleri”, honors Augustus Wilhelm Fendler (1813-1883), a Prussian botanist who collected plant specimens in North America, Central America, South America, Prussia and Trinidad. Many of his American Southwest specimens were collected for botanist Asa Gray. The family has economic importance because it contains numerous food plants, condiments, ornamentals. There are also poisonous species. Tuberous roots. The family identification depends on anatomical details of fruits and seeds. |
Last updated: January 28, 2022