Sanicula arctopoides Hook. & Arn.

Sanicula arctopoides H. & A. Bot. Beech. Voy. 141. 1832
Plants prostrate or decumbent, 1-3 dm. broad, perennial from a long, slender taproot, glabrous or the nodes and foliage puberulent, the main stem short, 5-30 cm. long, bearing a cluster of leaves and several divergent naked branches, usually longer than the leaves; leaves deltoid in general outline, excluding the petioles 2-6.5 cm. long, 2.5-9 cm. broad, palmately 3-parted, yellowish, the primary divisions cleft, laciniate-dentate with slender, unequal, fringed teeth, or rarely the lanceolate, spreading segments subentire, doubly dentate; petioles flattened, shortly sheathing below, 2.5-7 cm. long; involucre of bracts like the leaves; involucel of 8-17 entire, acute, unequal bractlets, 5-18 mm. long, conspicuously exceeding the heads; fertile rays 1-4, 4-21 cm. long, the umbellets capitate, 6-17 mm. broad, sterile and fertile flowers in the same umbellet; flowers yellow; calyx cleft to the middle, the lobes deltoid, acute, shorter than the petals; anthers yellow, exserted; styles exceeding the bristles; fruit obovoid or subglobose, 2-5 mm. long, 2-3 mm. broad, shortly pedicellate, the bristles prominent above, wanting below, bulbous at the base; oil-tubes numerous, irregularly distributed; seed slightly flattened dorsally in cross section, sulcate on the dorsal surface, the commissural face concave.
Type locality: "Northwest coast of America," Menzies.
Distribution: Coastal, northern Oregon to central California (Elmer 4885, Heller 8444).

Sanicula arctopoides is a species of sanicle known commonly as footsteps of spring, bear's foot sanicle or yellow mats. It is a perennial herb found on the west coast of the United States and Canada, especially near the ocean. The branches are short and thick and may be prostrate or slightly erect. The leaves are yellowish-green and carrot-like or maple-shaped, and the tiny yellow flowers are borne in umbels with prominent bracts. The plants grow in low matted patches along the ground, resembling "footsteps" of yellow against the background.

This is a protected species in some areas.

Sanicula arctopoides es una especie herbácea perteneciente a la familia de las apiáceas.

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