Nineleaf Biscuitroot
Lomatium triternatum
- Native to:
- Canada, United States
Walter Siegmund (talk)
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Apiaceae
- Genus:
- Lomatium
- Species:
- Lomatium triternatum
- USDA Symbol:
- LOTR2
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Forb/herb
- Height:
- 100 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Part Shade
- Drought Tolerance:
- High
- Bloom Months:
- apr,may,jun,jul
- Bloom Colors:
- yellow
Wildlife Benefits
- Bees:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented bee visitation (GBIF)
- Butterflies & Moths:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented Lepidoptera association (GBIF)
- Caterpillars:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)
Host Plant for Caterpillars
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- bees, butterflies, birds, small mammals
- Deer Resistant:
- Yes
- Fragrant:
- Yes
- Fire Ecology:
- Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
- Fire Notes:
- Resprouts from deep taproot following fire. Common in fire-adapted grassland and sagebrush steppe communities.
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- well-drained sandy or rocky soil
- pH:
- 6.0 - 8.0 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- dry to moderate
- Notes:
- prefers open, sunny locations
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- Cold/moist stratification required — 60–90 days
- Germination Time:
- 14–60 days
- Notes:
- Seeds require cold stratification. Surface sow or barely cover; light may aid germination.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI
Pre-treatment: Seeds require extended cold, moist stratification. Soak seeds in water for 24 hours, then place in a germinator at 4°C (39.2°F) in the dark for a 60-day prechill. Alternatively, seeds can be sown in containers in November and left outside under cool, fluctuating spring temperatures.
Establishment: Above ground growth is slow as the plants expend energy developing a substantial taproot. Plants grow in early spring and go dormant in mid-summer. In the first year, most plants will only produce a few leaves. Seed collection varies, with some protocols suggesting collection in late June or early July, and others suggesting July or August. Seed ripening is uniform within each individual umbel, but less so between umbels on the same or different plants.
Source: npn.rngr.net