Cymopterus


Cymopterus is a genus of perennial plants in the family Apiaceae native to western North America. They are commonly known as the spring parsleys and are edible. They are mostly stemless, taprooted perennial herbs with leaves at ground level and flowering scapes bearing yellow, white, or purple flowers.

Taxonomy

The taxonomy of this genus was described as confused in 2004, even after many decades of study. Authors have organized it in different ways, sometimes including several closely related Apiaceae genera within it. Genera recently segregated from Cymopterus include Vesper, six plants with morphological characters that are well-defined and easily separated from Cymopterus; the group has been separated before, but was reintegrated during repeated reorganizations of the genus. The number of accepted species has varied between about 50 to about 35.
The genus was named by Constantine Samuel Rafinesque in 1819.

Species

lists 42 accepted species:
  • Cymopterus aboriginum – Indian parsnip, Indian springparsley
  • Cymopterus alpinus
  • Cymopterus basalticusbasalt springparsley
  • Cymopterus beckiifeatherleaf springparsley
  • Cymopterus cinerariusgray springparsley
  • Cymopterus corrugatus
  • Cymopterus coulteri
  • Cymopterus crawfordensis
  • Cymopterus davidsonii
  • Cymopterus davisiiDavis' springparsley
  • Cymopterus deserticoladesert springparsley
  • Cymopterus douglassii – Douglass' springparsley
  • Cymopterus duchesnensis – Duchesne biscuitroot, Uinta Basin springparsley
  • Cymopterus evertiiEvert's springparsley
  • Cymopterus gilmaniiGilman's springparsley
  • Cymopterus glaucus – smooth springparsley, waxy springparsley
  • Cymopterus globosusglobe springparsley
  • Cymopterus glomeratusplains springparsley
  • Cymopterus goodrichii – Goodrich's springparsley, Toiyabe springparsley
  • Cymopterus hendersonii
  • Cymopterus ibapensis
  • Cymopterus jonesii – Jones' springparsley
  • Cymopterus lapidosus
  • Cymopterus lemmonii
  • Cymopterus longilobus
  • Cymopterus longipes – longstalk springparsley, sprawling springparsley
  • Cymopterus longiradiatus
  • Cymopterus macdougalii
  • Cymopterus megacephalus – largeleaf springparsley
  • Cymopterus minimusCedar Breaks springparsley
  • Cymopterus newberryi – sweetroot springparsley, sticky springparsley
  • Cymopterus nivalis – snowline springparsley, Elko springparsley
  • Cymopterus panamintensis – Panamint springparsley
  • Cymopterus petraeus
  • Cymopterus purpureus – purple springparsley, Colorado Plateau springparsley, variable springparsley
  • Cymopterus ripleyiRipley's springparsley
  • Cymopterus rosei – Rose's springparsley
  • Cymopterus sessiliflorus
  • Cymopterus spellenbergii
  • Cymopterus terebinthinus – turpentine wavewing
  • Cymopterus trotteri
  • Cymopterus williamsii – Williams' springparsley

    Formerly included here

  • Oreoxis bakeri
  • Oreoxis humilis
  • Vesper multinervatus
  • ''Vesper purpurascens''