About Lomatium gormanii (Howell) J.M.Coult. & Rose
Lomatium gormanii, commonly known as Gorman's biscuitroot and salt & pepper, is a perennial herb in the Apiaceae family. This species is endemic to the Northwestern United States, specifically found in Idaho, Oregon, and Washington, where it grows in steppe and montane environments. In the Sahaptin language, it goes by the names sasamít̓a, sasamít̓aya, and łałamít̓a. Lomatium gormanii only reaches a few inches in height, and it flowers earlier than many other species in sagebrush steppe habitat, sometimes blooming while snow still covers the ground. Its common condimental name "salt & pepper" comes from the dark violet anthers and white petals of the plant. Its leaves are narrow and divided. Lomatium gormanii is often mistaken for Lomatium piperi, which is called mámɨn in Sahaptin. Unlike L. piperi, L. gormanii does not have stem leaves, and its roots are generally larger and "hairier," meaning they have far more rootlets. L. gormanii is also more common than L. piperi, and grows in locations where L. piperi cannot be found.
