Southwest Colorado Wildflowers, Cymopterus 1

Constantine Rafinesque (1783-1840) named this genus, probably in 1833 when he renamed Selinum acaule (a name given by Pursh in 1814) to Cymopterus acaulis. The Greek "cym" and "pterum" come together as "Cymopterus", "waved" "wing", referring to the fruit.

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".

See also the second page of Cymopterus and Cymopterus bulbosus and the similar genera Lomatium and Podistera and Oreoxis.

Synonym: Cymopterus fendleri. Cymopterus acaulis variety fendleri. (Biscuitroot)
Apiaceae (Parsley Family)

Semi-desert, foothills. Canyons, openings. Spring.
McElmo Canyon, Canyons of the Ancients National Monument, March 27, 2005.

This tiny Parsley is similar to a number of spring blooming members of this family. The half-sphere of tightly packed clusters of flowers, often golden, is characteristic of some flowers in this family, but the lobed, shiny green leaves are distinguishing.

Augustus Fendler was a respected 19th century Western plant collector honored in many plant western names. "Acaulis" is a common Greek botanical descriptive term: "without a stem". (More biographical information.)

Synonym: Cymopterus fendleri. Cymopterus acaulis variety fendleri. (Biscuitroot)
Apiaceae (Parsley Family)

Semi-desert, foothills. Canyons, openings. Spring.
BLM lands near the San Juan River, Utah, April 6, 2005.

After a week or two the stalks elongate and spread the flower heads.

Synonym: Cymopterus fendleri. Cymopterus acaulis variety fendleri. (Biscuitroot)
Apiaceae (Parsley Family)

Semi-desert, foothills. Canyons, openings. Spring.
Canyons of the Ancients National Monument, April 18, 2007.

The bracts are deeply cut, green, and top a flower stalk that equals or exceeds the leaves.

Synonym: Cymopterus fendleri. Cymopterus acaulis variety fendleri. (Biscuitroot)
Apiaceae (Parsley Family)

Semi-desert, foothills. Canyons, openings. Spring.
Canyons of the Ancients National Monument, June 6, 2005.

Following a very moist fall, winter, and spring, Cymopteris fendleri plant, flower, and seeds were numerous, robust, and long-lasting. These seeds (on a stalk about 8 inches tall) have not matured by June 6th but will mature to purple within a few weeks.

Cymopterus newberryi
Apiaceae (Parsley Family)

Semi-desert. Sand openings. Spring.
Hidden Valley Trail, Utah, May 10, 2007.

This Cymopteris is found just in the Four Corners area of Utah and Arizona. Leaves are shiny and quite similar to those of C. fendleri shown above but the individual segments of C. newberryi are larger and not cut as often. This is a plant of sand, sand, sand.

John Newberry collected this species, probably on the Ives Expedition of 1857-1858, and it was at first named Peucedanum newberryi by Sereno Watson in 1873. Marcus Jones renamed it Cymopteris newberryi in 1893. Interestingly Jones also named it Cymopteris fendleri variety newberryi in 1908. Cymopteris newberryi does, indeed. very closely resemble Cymopteris fendleri. (More biographical information.)

Cymopterus newberryi
Apiaceae (Parsley Family)

Semi-desert. Sand openings. Spring.
Hidden Valley Trail, Utah, May 10, 2007.

The green bracts at the base of each flower cluster in C. newberryi (visible especially at the top center of photograph at left) are dark green, narrow, and separated at their base. Those of C. fendleri (as you can see several photographs above) are lighter green, pointed at the tip, and united at their base. The shape and color of the seeds is also significantly different.