Bradshaw’s desert parsley is a low, more or less erect perennial species that grows from a long slender taproot. It is nearly acaulescent and glabrous or slightly puberulent, with leaves 10-15 cm long on petioles as long to much longer. Leaves are ternate then pinnately dissected, the ultimate segments linear and 0.6-1.2 cm long. The peduncles are 15-60 cm high, the small light yellow flowers arranged in umbels with 7-16 rays, generally only 1-4 of the rays fertile. The involucels are comprised of about 10 bracts 0.2-0.6 cm long and ternately or biternately divided. The glabrous fruit is oblong, 1.0-1.3 cm long, the lateral wings corky and thickened.
Bradshaw’s desert parsley is found in wet prairies with shallow, poorly-drained clay soils, often near the banks of creeks or small rivers.
Limiting factors
The primary threats to Bradshaw’s desert parsley include habitat loss, habitat degradation due to fire suppression, and competition from invasive plants. Overspray of herbicides may negatively impact this species.
Data gaps
Engage in long-term monitoring of critical populations. Work to better understand climate change vulnerability.
Conservation actions
Continue implementing actions in the recovery plan. Locate protected sites with suitable habitat for introduction across the species range. Maintain or restore grass-dominated habitat. Maintain or restore hydrology. Control key invasive plants. Use mowing or prescribed fire to control brush and trees. Maintain populations in roadsides and ditches. Set up conservation easements on private properties. Develop formal site management plans.
Key reference or plan
A U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Recovery Plan for prairie species of western Oregon and southwestern Washington (https://ecos.fws.gov/docs/recovery_plan/100629.pdf) was released in 2010 and addresses conservation needs of Bradshaw’s desert parsley. A Species Status Assessment for Bradshaw’s lomatium was published in 2018 (https://iris.fws.gov/APPS/ServCat/DownloadFile/180443). The most recent 5-Year Review was completed in 2017 (https://ecosphere-documents-production-public.s3.amazonaws.com/sams/public_docs/species_nonpublish/2811.pdf). In addition, the Post-Delisting Monitoring Plan for Bradshaw’s lomatium was published by the USFWS in June 2020.
