Montane, subalpine.  Woodlands.  Spring, summer.
Prairie Dog Knoll Trail, Abajo Mountains, Utah, June 25, 2004.

Osmorhiza chilensis and Osmorhiza depauperata are wispy, very delicate plants easily over-looked even though they are very common.  They grow singly, as in this picture, or in large colonies lining trails. Tiny white flowers are grouped in equally tiny sprays.  These give way to long, very narrow seed pods.

The most recent botanical classification eliminates O. chilensis and splits it into three species, one of which is combined with O. depauperata. 

Stems , leaves, seeds, and especially roots of Sweet Cicely often have a pleasant anise flavor and aroma, thus its Greek genus name: "osmo" for "smell" and "rhiza" for "root".  "Chilensis" is for the country of Chile where the plant was first collected in the late 1820s.  "Depauperata", "diminutive", perhaps refers to Sweet Cicely’s very delicate, fragile form and tiny flowers.

Montane, subalpine.  Woodlands.  Spring, summer.
Prairie Dog Knoll Trail, Abajo Mountains, Utah, June 25, 2004.
Bear Creek Trail, July 1, 2004.

Even though the most recent botanical classification combines Osmorhiza chilensis with Osmorhiza depauperata, there are variations that are interesting to observe: the Osmorhiza chilensis flowers and seeds are in a compact spray, i.e., the pedicel (the individual flower stem) of each flower makes about a 30 degree angle with the peduncle (the stem of the entire flower cluster).  Osmorhiza depauperata flowers and seeds spread nearly at right angles to the main flower stem (see especially the last seed photograph of O. depauperata).  Seeds of O. chilensis are nearly cylindrical; seeds of O. depauperata are club-shaped.  Otherwise the plants are almost identical in appearance.

Montane, subalpine.  Woodlands.  Spring, summer.
Sharkstooth Trail, July 14, 2006.

See the above contrast and comparison with Osmorhiza chilensis.  

Montane, subalpine.  Woodlands.  Spring, summer.
Sharkstooth Trail, July 14, 2006.

Montane, subalpine.  Woodlands.  Spring, summer.
Robertson Pasture Trail, Abajo Mountains, Utah, June 12, 2009.

Club-shaped seeds are in a wide open spray.

Montane, subalpine.  Woodlands.  Spring, summer.
Prairie Dog Knoll Trail, Abajo Mountains, Utah, August 17, 2009.

Fall colors are subdued, but quite handsome shades of reds.

Osmorhiza occidentalis (Sweet Cicely)
Apiaceae (Parsley Family)

Montane, subalpine. Woodlands, meadows. Spring, summer.
Echo Basin Loop Road, June 7, 2004 and Abajo Mountains, Utah, June 12, 2009.

The Osmorhiza occidentalis flower is so tiny and so spread on long stems that it is easily overlooked. Leaves are pointed and serrated; stems are thick and swaying.  Osmorhiza occidentalis can occur singly in open dry woods or in very large patches in moist woods.  Compare this Sweet Cicely to its even more common close relatives, Osmorhiza depauperata and Osmorhiza chilensis above.

Stems , leaves, seeds, and roots of Sweet Cicely often have a pleasant anise flavor and aroma, thus its Greek genus name: "osmo" for "smell" and "rhiza" for "root". "Occidentalis" is Latin for "Western".

Thomas Nuttall collected the first specimen of this plant in what is now Oregon in the early 1830s. He named it Glycosma occidentalis in 1840 and it was given its present name by John Torrey in 1858.

Osmorhiza occidentalis (Sweet Cicely)
Apiaceae (Parsley Family)

Montane, subalpine. Woodlands, meadows. Spring, summer.
Fish Creek Trail, August 9, 2005.

Seed pods are a half inch to almost an inch long on very wide spreading and noticeable stems.

Range map © John Kartesz,
Floristic Synthesis of North America

State Color Key

Species present in state and native
Species present in state and exotic
Species not present in state

County Color Key

Species present and not rare
Species present and rare
Species extirpated (historic)
Species extinct
Species noxious
Species exotic and present
Native species, but adventive in state
Eradicated
Questionable presence

Range map for Osmorhiza depauperata

Range map for Osmorhiza occidentalis