Perideridia montana / Gairdner’s yampah

Adjectives: edible, fragrant, native, rocky

Also known as: Indian carrot, caraway, yampa, common yampah, Northern yampah, western false caraway, squaw root
Synonym: Perideridia gairdneri

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Yampah is a slender, hairless perennial in the carrot family. It has single stem that arises from a single, fleshy underground stem. That tuber is cylindrical and vertical in the soil.

The leaves are few and their overall appearance is grass-like, even though they are technically compound with several leaflets. This form makes them very difficult to find when surrounded by other plants, especially grasses.

In addition to being overwhelmed by neighbors, when yampah flowers, it is likely that the leaves have already completely wilted. Although it is clearly in the apiaceae/umbelliferae because of its compound umbel inflorescence and many spherical clusters of teeny white flowers, it is, to me, really identifiable by the apparent lack of leaves.

Fruits and/or developing inflorescences can be present at the same time as the flowers. The fruits are small and almost round rather than flattened as in some members of the family.

Yampah grows in many types of habitat, moist to dry, on rocky hillsides, in woodlands, or in meadows (either moist or dry).

Despite its minimalist appearance, yampah has an important place in the history of the region as a staple food for various tribes of indigenous peoples. The tubers can be eaten like potatoes, roasted, steamed or (unlike potatoes) fresh or dried. The starch in the tubers provides a ready source of energy. They can be made into mush or pinole, and used as flour and flavoring. Crushed seeds can be used as a seasoning resembling caraway.

Be very wary, however. Plants in this family, even ones that look a lot like yampah, are deadly poisonous… think water hemlock and poison hemlock. Find a “real botanist” or an experienced wildlands forager to help you identify this with certainty before putting it near your mouth (or eyes, or skin).