Lomatium

Lomatium is a genus of 70 to 80 perennial herbs native to western North America.

Several species, including L. cous, L. geyeri, and L. macrocarpum, are sometimes known as biscuit roots for their starchy edible roots. These are or have been traditional Native American foods, eaten cooked or dried and ground into flour. Their flavor has been compared to celery, parsnip, or stale biscuits.

The roots of some species, including L. dissectum, have been used as herbal medicines for cough and upper respiratory infections.

The University of British Columbia has performed research showing that extract of L. dissectum is effective at imobilizing the tuberculosis and avium mycobacterium in the laboratory, but efficacy on human beings has not been tested.

This plant family is well know for members that are highly toxic.

Selected species

 * L. ambiguum
 * L. bicolor
 * L. bradshawii
 * L. brandegei
 * L. californicum
 * L. canbyi
 * L. columbianum
 * L. cous
 * L. cusickii
 * L. cuspidatum
 * L. dissectum
 * L. donnellii
 * L. farinosum
 * L. foeniculaceum
 * L. geyeri
 * L. gormanii
 * L. grayi
 * L. greenmanii
 * L. hallii
 * L. hambleniae
 * L. hendersonii
 * L. idahoense
 * L. laevigatum
 * L. leptocarpum
 * L. macrocarpum
 * L. martindalei
 * L. minus
 * L. nevadense
 * L. nudicaule
 * L. oreganum
 * L. orogenioides
 * L. rollinsii
 * L. roseanum
 * L. salmoniflorum
 * L. serpentinum
 * L. suksdorfii
 * L. thompsonii
 * L. triternatum
 * L. tuberosum
 * L. utriculatum
 * L. vaginatum
 * L. watsonii