Montana Field Guide

Geyer's Biscuitroot is a glabrous, herbaceous perennial with 1-3 stems that are 15-40 cm tall. These stems arise from a tuberous-thickened taproot that is up to 4 cm in diameter. Leaves are 2-3 times pinnately divided into narrow ultimate segments and are borne on the lower half of the stem or sometimes only at the base. The smallest flower clusters consist of a number of stalked flowers attached at a single point (simple umbels); these clusters are, in turn, stalked and attached at a single point to form compound umbels. The small, leaf-like bracts of the simple umbels are 2-3 mm long. The small white flowers have 5 separate petals attached on top of the ovary. The glabrous fruits are compressed, elliptic in outline, and 7-12 mm long.

Flowering end of March-May, fruiting in late May-early June.

Distinguished from glabrous species of Lomatium with thickened taproots in northwestern Montana by a combination of white flowers, fruits 7-12 mm long on 3-5 mm stalks, height mostly less than 30 cm tall, and narrow bracts. The Parsley family contains many species which superficially resemble each other. A technical key must be consulted to distinguish them from each other.

Vernally moist soil in open or partially shaded habitats in the montane zone.

STATE THREAT SCORE REASON
Reported threats to Montana's populations of [common name] are inconclusive; therefore, a NatureServe threat rank could not be assigned (MTNHP Threat Assessment 2021).