Lomatium grayi aka Gray's Biscuitroot

Lomatium grayi belongs to the carrot family, Apiaceae. It is a perennial, which means it lives for years. People call it biscuitroot or Gray's biscuitroot. Kew places its native range in the west-central United States. Plants For A Future lists several western states. It also lists British Columbia, with records from Galiano Island and Saltspring Island in Canada. The plant grows in temperate regions. It is not native to Britain or Ireland.

This plant grows about 1.6 feet (0.5 metres) tall. It grows in dry, open sites, often among rocks. It ranges from lowlands and foothills up into the mountains. Plants For A Future notes a bad smell throughout the plant. Each flower has both male and female organs. Insects pollinate the flowers. The plant can also use its own pollen to set seed. The supplied sources give no flower colour or bloom season. They give no details on leaf shape or fruit form.

Plants For A Future suggests a sunny spot in gardens. It states that the plant cannot grow in shade. Sandy soil, loam, or clay may suit it. The soil must drain well. The listed soil moisture ranges from dry to moist. Soil may be slightly acid, neutral, or slightly alkaline. There is a clear limit to these care notes. Little is known about how to grow this plant. Based on its native range, the source suggests it may survive outdoors across much of Britain. It does not confirm this or give a hardiness zone. It lists garden beds as a place to grow it.

Records describe food uses for the roots once cooked. People can also dry them and grind them into flour. They can mix this powder with grain flour or add it to soup. Past records note roots as winter food when supplies ran low. People have eaten the tender young stems raw. The source also lists seeds as food. It gives no details on how to prepare them. Plants For A Future lists no known hazards. This does not prove safety for pets or every use. It records no uses as medicine or other non-food uses.

Growers can sow fresh seed when ripe, straight outdoors. A cold frame is another option the source lists. Stored seed sown in spring may need at least a year to sprout. Cold treatment may cut this wait. Growers can move seedlings into their own pots once large enough to handle. The source suggests planting them out in summer. It also lists spring or autumn division as a possible way to grow more plants.