amazing Apiaceae (the umbellifers)

[McDonough]

Cymopteris globosus is an amazing plant.  I thought it rang a bell, and sure enough, I posted a CalPhotos link to this species and several other fantastic Cymopteris here:
http://nargs.org/smf/index.php?topic=662.msg8397#msg8397

Glad to be reminded of such unique plants as the NARGS Seedex opening approaches.

[Tim Ingram]

Some of the Cymopterus really are extraordinary! It is interesting how little they are known in comparison even with many of alpine umbels of South America and New Zealand. Mind you they must be really difficult to grow in the garden in many cases; I have always thought them very like bulbs with their early flowering habit and summer aestivation. I have tried a few of these from seed and had good germination (in some cases in the fridge!), but haven't yet managed to grow them on successfully. They must be good candidates for a sand or crevice bed. (There is a glorious example on the Alplains list - Cymopterus planosus - who would not want to grow a plant like that!!).

[Kelaidis]

Two pix: the first is good old Lomatium dissectum: big, variable, easy in the garden. Here photographed on the West Elk Mts. in mid July in aspenwoods at about 8000-9000'.

The second is more problematical: Oreoxis humilis only grows on Pikes peak. I believe it is proposed for endangered species status. It is very cute and probably quite growable. Too this a few days after the last picture.

I spent the day with my girlfriend at the Stanford Mall (quite the shopping center): I cannot remember the name of the manufacturer, but there was an exquisite set of China at Bloomingdale's featuring all manner of Umbelliferae. Very appropriate to this string...

[McDonough]

Wow, Oreoxis humilis is a beauty!  Found a link from 2009 concerning endangered species status, with disappointing news. PK, hopefully you'll be collecting seed on it sometime (before it does get listed) and grow them at DBG.

USDA list 4 secies of Oreoxis
http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=OREOX

Oreoxis humilis
In the following USDA Forest Service documents, the range is given as only Colorado.
http://www.fs.fed.us/r2/projects/scp/assessments/oreoxishumilis.pdf
http://www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/rareplants/profiles/critically_imperiled/oreoxis_humilis/index.shtml
...and listed as only Colorado in this U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service document entitled "Endangered Species Act Protections for 165 Petitioned Species Not Warranted":
http://www.fws.gov/mountain-prairie/pressrel/09-04.html

...curiously the UDSA Plant Profile includes New Mexico in its range, probably a mistake:
http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=ORHU


Oreoxis alpina (and O. bakeri):
http://www.swcoloradowildflowers.com/Yellow%20Enlarged%20Photo%20Pages/oreoxis.htm
...O. alpina on the NARGS Wiki:
http://www.nargs.org/nargswiki/tiki-browse_image.php?imageId=2960

Oreoxis bakeri
http://www.flickr.com/photos/12803916@N00/3936911951/

Oreoxis trotteri:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/35623196/Oreoxis-trotteri-Utah-Rare-Plants

[Weiser]

I like the look of them. Do they go dormant in the summer months?

Here we have Lomatium nevadense var nevadense a more wild spread miniature species. Easy from seed and summer dormant.

http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=LONEN

[Lori S.]

It's good to hear that they are easy from seed.  Does that mean they don't need conditioning (stratification) or would you recommend it? 

I've tried Lomatium columbianum a couple of times now with no germination at room temp, or stratified in the cold room, or over the winter outdoors - very frustrating!  I wonder if the seeds have limited longevity?  Then again, I seem to have problems germinating Apiaceae in general... what's the trick?

[Weiser]

Lori
 I just scattered the seed and let nature take care of the rest. I think stratification will not hurt them. We are so hot and dry in the summer that the seedlings can't sprout so have to wait for spring. It takes a couple of years for them to reach flowering size.

[Lori S.]

Okay then, by scattering them outside, they are being stratified (exposed to varying temperatures)... good to know.  Thank you!

[Tim Ingram]

Really like that Oreoxis and the further details from Mark - these small umbels have the same appeal that the larger herbaceous species have, even if a lot more tricky to grow. I have always sown umbellifer seed in the cooling days of autumn (if I get the seed early enough), so it gets a spell of warm and moist weather, with cooler nights, and then a winter stratification. Usually then germination is pretty good in spring. However, I have had seed sown late and stratified in the fridge germinate still at 4°C in the dark (similarly with eriogonums). This year plants of Lomatium columbianum in our garden set lots of seed so I hope for good germination next year. I find the foliage of these plants irresistable.

[Lori S.]

Very helpful to read your germination experiences too, Tim.   Thanks.

[stephenb]

NARGS seed of Lomatium columbianum from 2007 germinated mid-June here (I just sowed the seed in a pot  and stratified in a cold frame outside). However, I lost it the following winter. I have succeeded with 3 or 4 Lomatium species of about 14 species that I've tried here!

[stephenb]

Some of these remind of several local umbellifers I am fond of, I'll have to dig up pictures--such as the very charming, subtle Sweet Cicely (blunt-fruited; Osmorhiza depauperata) which is common in the woods here.. I sent seed to Stephen, hopefully he gets some babies

Unfortunately, there were no babies, perhaps next spring?

[stephenb]

Here's an update on Peucedanum ostruthium 'Daphnis'... I've gained a bit more appreciation for it since this thread started, and it really is an attractive thing:
*INCORRECT USE OF [attachthumb=#]. You need to specify the attachment number, for example [attachthumb=1].

Yes, very nice, but it might also be a bit thuglike too - I've noticed it spread quite far in one season, worth keeping an eye on!

[Lori S.]

The dry (on top of cold, I suppose) conditions here have seemed to keep it in check so far, but I will certainly watch it.

[Kelaidis]

Tim: your picture of Lomatium columbianum is stunning: but white! I have seen this in full bloom in the Columbia River gorge where it is incredibly beautiful (deep rose purple red flowers): your foliage is the same silvery blue, but you must have an albino! I never saw white flowered ones in nature...you may or not be aware this is quite a rare plant in nature. So having an albino (even rarer) is something special. But you need the purple phase too! Most lomatiums are yellow, so white and purple are very cool!