Angelica arguta / Lyall’s angelica
- white to yellow to pink-ish
- compound umbel with teeny individual flowers
- many-toothed compound leaves with sheath surrounding petiole
- leaflets egg-shaped to narrowly oval
- pungent parsley/celery/anise scent when leaves crushed
Also known as: sharp-tooted angelica
Lyall’s angelica is tall, white-flowered umbellifer. The umbels are compound, with between 20 and 60 branchlets (rays). On each ray, there are several dozen, 5-petaled teeny white flowers. Not infrequently, there are also small beetles. Whether these are pollinators or “nectar robbers”, I am not sure. This species is found mostly in wetter areas and is important as spring forage for bears who probably are digging up the large tap roots.
The first thing that might strike you about this plant – after you notice the teeny flowers and the large inflorescence – is the leaves. They are substantial in size, but not huge. They are compound with toothed leaflets, alternating on the stems.
Unlike many members of the Apiaceae, Angelica leaves and stems are not contact-poisonous.
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