Intermountain Flora observes that "the taxonomic definition of Cymopterus is a vexed question.... Even the distinction between Cymopterus and Lomatium is subject to failure.  Ordinarily one or more of the dorsal ribs [of the seeds have wings in] Cymopterus, but not in Lomatium.  Cymopterus newberryi completely bridges the difference.  In this species the dorsal wings vary from nearly or fully as large as the lateral ones to poorly developed or even obsolete".    

In early spring, the white papery bracts of Cymopterus bulbosus are eye-arresting.  Purple/pink flowers push through the bracts and enlarge, the bracts folding back and becoming less prominent.  Leaves are a beautiful pale green on broad flat stalks and provide a tasty treat for small critters -- notice the clipped  stalks to the left of center.

Alice Eastwood first collected specimens of this plant in Durango, Colorado in 1890 and Marcus Jones named the plant Cymopterus utahensis variety eastwoodae in 1895.  Aven Nelsen renamed this species Cymopterus bulbosus in 1899.

Semi-desert. Openings, shrublands, woodlands. Spring.
Canyons of the Ancients National Monument, March 27, 2005, April 2, 2005, March 24, 2009, Lone Mesa State Park, May 14, 2009, Utah Fours area, April 17, 2010, and BLM lands near the San Juan River, April 6, 2005.

Flowers start completely enclosed in tight papery white bracts (actually "bractlets", since the bracts are those structures that enclose the entire flower cluster) and gradually enlarge; bracts and bractlets remain as the flowers and seeds mature.

Albino plants, shown at left below, are rare.

In the photograph of the flower cluster from the underside, you can see the star-shaped bract (the involucre), the rays that support the individual flower clusters, the white bractlets (the involucels), and the single green-to-purple vein on each petal lobe.  The shape and size of the involucre and involucel and the number of veins are key in distinguishing C. bulbosus from C. constancei (below) and other similar Cymopterus species.

Semi-desert. Openings, shrublands, woodlands. Spring.
Mike and Mona's Five Springs Farm, May 8, 2010.

Cymopterus constancei and C. bulbosus are very similar plants, distinguished by a careful examination of several characteristics: Leaflets of Cymopterus constancei are more finely and repeatedly notched.  Cymopterus constancei has long and narrow bracts (bottom photograph, bottom arrow) and their  wide and cleft bractlets (bottom photograph, top arrow) have more stripes.  Their fruits have broader wings and the fruits are in a tighter cluster.  C. constancei and C. bulbosus can sometimes be found growing in similar habitats and soils but overall C. constancei tends to grow at slightly higher altitudes (6-7000 feet) in sandy soils; C. bulbosus tends to grow a bit lower and in heavy clays.

Cymopterus constancei is often mis-classified in the Four Corners area as C. purpurascens.

Ron Hartman's 2000 description of this new species that he discovered ends with this paragraph about Lincoln Constance: "Cymopterus constancei is named in honor of Lincoln Constance of the University of California at Berkeley, for his stellar contribution to the systematics of Apiaceae and for the generous help and advice given me on western North American umbels."  (Click for more biographical information).

Range map © John Kartesz,
Floristic Synthesis of North America

State Color KeySpecies present in state and native
Species present in state and exotic
Species not present in state

County Color Key

Species present and not rare
Species present and rare
Species extirpated (historic)
Species extinct
Species noxious
Species exotic and present
Native species, but adventive in state
Eradicated
Questionable presence

Range map for Cymopterus bulbosus  

Range map for Cymopterus constancei