The rare and restricted endemic
Lomatium latilobum just barely starting to flower at the base of
Quercus welshii (syn.
Quercus havardii var.
tuckeri; see the dried leaves also which are a match for the concept of
Q. welshii which was named in 2003 but has not yet gained full acceptance by taxonomists).The whitish persistent prior year leaf stalks and bases (visible here mainly at left) are characteristic of this unique
Lomatium. It usually has mostly entire, glabrous leaves.Older plants can grow into wider clumps than shown here. Smaller plants can be confused with
Aletes macdougalii (syn.
Cymopterus macdougalii) which has an overlapping distribution. It is also sometimes confused with
Lomatium parryi which also grows in the same area but which has reddish stems, is smaller in stature, and has very different leaves (smaller/narrower) and different in other respects. Grows often at the bases of cliffs and in rock crevices (hence another common name, Slickrock biscuitroot) as well in nearby sandy soils derived usually from Entrada sandstone.The common name refers to the general area in which it is found, but should not be assumed to mean "Canyonlands National Park" where it has not yet been found. It is a Navajo Basin endemic that has only been found in a small area in the general vicinity of Moab with a primary distribution in south-central Grand County, Utah and just barely over the border into San Juan County, and also in adjoining Mesa County, Colorado. Currently ranked by the Utah Native Plant Society rare plant committee as "High" in terms of conservation priority/concern. See:
www.utahrareplants.org/rpg_species.htmlApril 13, 2013, Arches National Park, Grand County, Utah, elev. 5,245 ft.
