| Cymopterus | |
|---|---|
| |
| Cymopterus newberryi | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Embryophytes |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Spermatophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Apiales |
| Family: | Apiaceae |
| Subfamily: | Apioideae |
| Tribe: | Selineae |
| Genus: | Cymopterus Raf. |
| Species | |
| Synonyms1 | |
| |
Cymopterus is a genus of perennial plants in the family Apiaceae native to western North America. They are commonly known as the spring parsleys2 and are edible. They are mostly stemless, taprooted perennial herbs with leaves at ground level and flowering scapes bearing yellow, white, or purple flowers.3
Taxonomy
The taxonomy of this genus was described as confused in 2004, even after many decades of study.4 Authors have organized it in different ways, sometimes including several closely related Apiaceae genera within it.4 Genera recently segregated from Cymopterus include Vesper, six plants with morphological characters that are well-defined and easily separated from Cymopterus; the group has been separated before, but was reintegrated during repeated reorganizations of the genus.5 The number of accepted species has varied between about 503 to about 35.61
The genus was named by Constantine Samuel Rafinesque in 1819.1
Species
Plants of the World Online lists 42 accepted species:1
- Cymopterus aboriginum M.E.Jones – Indian parsnip, Indian springparsley
- Cymopterus alpinus A.Gray
- Cymopterus basalticus M.E.Jones – basalt springparsley
- Cymopterus beckii S.L.Welsh & Goodrich – featherleaf springparsley
- Cymopterus cinerarius A.Gray – gray springparsley
- Cymopterus corrugatus M.E.Jones
- Cymopterus coulteri (M.E.Jones) Mathias
- Cymopterus crawfordensis K.Moon, S.L.Welsh & Goodrich
- Cymopterus davidsonii (J.M.Coult. & Rose) R.L.Hartm.
- Cymopterus davisii R.L.Hartm. – Davis' springparsley
- Cymopterus deserticola Brandegee – desert springparsley
- Cymopterus douglassii R.L.Hartm. & Constance – Douglass' springparsley
- Cymopterus duchesnensis M.E.Jones – Duchesne biscuitroot, Uinta Basin springparsley
- Cymopterus evertii R.L.Hartm. & R.S.Kirkp. – Evert's springparsley
- Cymopterus gilmanii C.V.Morton – Gilman's springparsley
- Cymopterus glaucus Nutt. – smooth springparsley, waxy springparsley
- Cymopterus globosus (S.Watson) S.Watson – globe springparsley
- Cymopterus glomeratus (Nutt.) DC. – plains springparsley
- Cymopterus goodrichii S.L.Welsh & Neese – Goodrich's springparsley, Toiyabe springparsley
- Cymopterus hendersonii (J.M.Coult. & Rose) Cronquist
- Cymopterus ibapensis M.E.Jones
- Cymopterus jonesii J.M.Coult. & Rose – Jones' springparsley
- Cymopterus lapidosus (M.E.Jones) M.E.Jones
- Cymopterus lemmonii (J.M.Coult. & Rose) Dorn
- Cymopterus longilobus (Rydb.) W.A.Weber
- Cymopterus longipes S.Watson – longstalk springparsley, sprawling springparsley
- Cymopterus longiradiatus (Mathias, Constance & W.L.Theob.) B.L.Turner
- Cymopterus macdougalii (J.M.Coult. & Rose) Tidestr.
- Cymopterus megacephalus M.E.Jones – largeleaf springparsley
- Cymopterus minimus (Mathias) Mathias – Cedar Breaks springparsley
- Cymopterus newberryi (S.Watson) M.E.Jones – sweetroot springparsley, sticky springparsley
- Cymopterus nivalis S.Watson – snowline springparsley, Elko springparsley
- Cymopterus panamintensis J.M.Coult. & Rose – Panamint springparsley
- Cymopterus petraeus M.E.Jones
- Cymopterus purpureus S.Watson – purple springparsley, Colorado Plateau springparsley, variable springparsley
- Cymopterus ripleyi Barneby – Ripley's springparsley
- Cymopterus rosei (M.E.Jones ex J.M.Coult. & Rose) M.E.Jones – Rose's springparsley
- Cymopterus sessiliflorus (W.L.Theob. & C.C.Tseng) R.L.Hartm.
- Cymopterus spellenbergii R.L.Hartm. & J.E.Larson
- Cymopterus terebinthinus (Hook.) Torr. & A.Gray – turpentine wavewing
- Cymopterus trotteri (S.L.Welsh & Goodrich) Cronquist
- Cymopterus williamsii R.L.Hartm. & Constance – Williams' springparsley
Formerly included here
- Oreoxis bakeri (as Cymopterus bakeri)7
- Oreoxis humilis (as Cymopterus humilis)8
- Vesper multinervatus (as Cymopterus multinervatus)9
- Vesper purpurascens (as Cymopterus purpurascens)10
References
References
- "Cymopterus Raf". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 11 October 2025.
- Cymopterus. USDA PLANTS.
- Cymopterus. The Jepson eFlora 2013.
- Sun, F. and S. R. Downie. (2004). A molecular systematic investigation of Cymopterus and its allies (Apiaceae) based on phylogenetic analyses of nuclear (ITS) and plastid (rps16 intron) DNA sequences. South African Journal of Botany 70(3), 407-16.
- Hartman, R. L. and G. L. Nesom. (2012). Taxonomy of the genus Vesper (Apiaceae). Phytoneuron 94 1-9.
- Downie, S. R., et al. (2002). Polyphyly of the spring-parsleys (Cymopterus): molecular and morphological evidence suggests complex relationships among the perennial endemic genera of western North American Apiaceae. Canadian Journal of Botany 80(12), 1295-1324.
- "Cymopterus bakeri (J.M.Coult. & Rose) M.E.Jones". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 13 October 2025.
- "Cymopterus humilis (Raf.) Tidestr". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 11 October 2025.
- "Cymopterus multinervatus (J.M.Coult. & Rose) Tidestr". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 13 October 2025.
- "Cymopterus purpurascens (A.Gray) M.E.Jones". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 13 October 2025.
Further reading
Further reading
- Sun, F. J. and S. R. Downie. (2010). Phylogenetic relationships among the perennial, endemic Apiaceae subfamily Apioideae of western North America: additional data from the cpDNA trnF-trnL-trnT region continue to support a highly polyphyletic Cymopterus. Plant Diversity and Evolution 128(1-2), 151-72.