Desert-Parsley (2 kinds)

"Fern Leaved Desert Parsley" or
"Fern Leaved Biscuit Root"
(Lomatium dissectum)

2008 May 6

2008 May 20

2008 May 20

2008 May 20

Can also be called "Chocolate Tips" as the flowers are purplish-chocolate in colour.

Some First Nation People ate the young shoots and roots, even though somewhat bitter to the taste. The roots were also dried and then steam-cooked with Yellow Glacier Lily bulbs. This site shows other uses.

"Large Fruited Desert Parsley" or
"Big Seed Biscuit Root"
(Lomatium macrocarpum)

2008 May 9

2008 May 20

2008 June 10
Picture taken at Skihist Park, between Lytton and Spences Bridge

2008 June 10
Picture taken at Basque, between Spences Bridge and Ashcroft

The deer seem to like this plant as every time I would go back to check on progress, it would be munched back.

First Nation peoples would dig roots (before flowering) and would eat them raw for their peppery taste or dry them for later use. They also made an infusion to treat heart problems. This site lists other uses.

Cinquefoil: Marsh

"Marsh Cinquefoil" (Potentilla palustris)

2008 July 16

2008 July 16

2008 July 16

2008 July 16

We found this perennial on the edge of a near by lake ... not within walking distance. In times gone by, this plant was used in love potions! "The flowers emit a fetid odour that attracts carrion-feeding insects as pollinators."** I didn't actually smell the flowers but there sure were a lot of insects buzzing around, doing their job.

** excerpted from "Plants of Southern Interior British Columbia and the Inland Northwest"