(Apiaceae)

Flowers are organized alphabetically by genus and species. Hover over a photo series to control the images.

Water Hemlock (Cicuta sp.)

In October 2025 I noticed this plant growing thickly along the little creek that tumbles down from Carlito Springs. Based on the leaves, it's either Western water hemlock (Cicuta douglasii) or spotted water hemlock (C. maculata), whose ranges overlap in New Mexico. Either species is among the most poisonous plants out there. I'll be back in the summer of 2026 for photos of the flowers.

Fendler's Biscuitroot, Fendler's Spring Parsley (Cymopterus glomeratus)

 Oshá, Porter's Lovage (Ligusticum porteri)

In New Mexico, oshá is famous as a folk medicinal plant. According to the plant list for the Sandia Mountains,  the very similar-looking Rocky Mountain hemlock-parsley (Conioselinum scopulorum) occurs in those mountains but is restricted to wet areas at springs and along streams.

Sweet Cicely (Osmorhiza)

Despite the shared common name, the local sweet cicely isn't the same as the Old World herb, Myrrhis odorata. Sweet cicely flowers are tiny and easily overlooked. One the flowers are gone, the seed clusters are distinctive; they always remind me of sets of helicopter blades. If you're lucky, as the summer runs out you'll see sweet cicely leaves turning purple.

Mountain Parsley (Pseudocymopterus montanus)

Bulbous Spring Parsley? (Vesper cf. bulbosus)