Cymopterus glomeratus (Plains Cymopterus) - photos and description
General: Low acaulescent plant, very early flowering. Stems and petioles often reddish near their base. Plant glabrous.
Flowers: White flowers in umbels on short peduncles. Umbels measured to 25 mm in diameter. Plants begin flowering late April and early May.
Leaves: Leaves are basal, 2 or 3 times pinnate, on decumbent to prostrate stems. Leaf measured at 7cm long (including petiole). Petioles concave in profile.
Height: Budd's Flora states the short stems rarely exceeds 5 cm in height, we measured flower stems growing to 5 cm tall.
Habitat: Dry prairie and hillsides.
Abundance: Fairly common.
Origin: Native.
Synonym: Listed in some of the field guides we use as Cymopterus acaulis.
How to identify Cymopterus from other genera in the Umbelliferae family: Plant is glabrous, has leafless flowering stems, and has white flowers (Taxonomic Reminder for Identifying Saskatchewan Plants).
When and where photographed: Photos taken May 8th, dry prairie on the edge of the Souris River Valley, 200 km south east of our home in Regina, SK, and May 2nd on clay flats at Claybank, SK, 80 km south west of our home in Regina, SK.