Orogenia linearifolia.  Synonym: Lomatium linearifolium. (Turkeypea, Indian Potato)
Apiaceae (Parsley Family)

Foothills, montane. Meadows. Spring.
Above: Dolores Plateau, May 7, 2010 and April 22, 2020. Mavericks Trail at Boggy Draw, April 10, 2012.
Left: Dolores Plateau, May 7, 2010.

Orogenia linearifolia blooms in open meadows, often at mid-montane elevations just after snow melt.  Within weeks the plant withers and is not detectable.  Even when it is in full bloom it is not easy to find because it is so minute, growing at most to four inches tall. The photograph immediately above gives you some idea of how difficult it is to find Orogenia. What does make it somewhat detectable is its habit of growing in extensive colonies and its habit of growing with more eye-catching early spring plants, such as various bright yellow Buttercups.

Leaves are long, narrow, upright, and most often cut into three divisions that look somewhat like a Turkey's foot. Individual flowers are quite tiny but they are grouped in more visible flattened umbels.

Sereno Watson named this genus in 1871 from a specimen he collected in Utah in 1869.  "Oros" is Greek for "mountain" and "genia" alludes to the plant's resemblance to the genus "Erigenia".

Orogenia linearifolia.  Synonym: Lomatium linearifolium. (Turkeypea, Indian Potato)
Apiaceae (Parsley Family)

Foothills, montane. Meadows. Spring.
Dolores Plateau, April 26, 2009, April 30, 2013, and May 10, 2014.

Flower heads are dense and yield dense heads of seed pods.

Orogenia linearifolia.  Synonym: Lomatium linearifolium. (Turkeypea, Indian Potato)
Apiaceae (Parsley Family)

Foothills, montane. Meadows. Spring.
Dolores Plateau, April 26, 2009.

As the rays (the long green peduncle supporting each flower cluster) lengthen, the flowers may mature at different rates.  Seeds are already forming on the flower cluster to the far right.

Orogenia linearifolia.  Synonym: Lomatium linearifolium. (Turkeypea, Indian Potato)
Apiaceae (Parsley Family)

Foothills, montane. Meadows. Spring.
Dolores Plateau, April 26, 2009.

Orogenia linearifolia.  Synonym: Lomatium linearifolium. (Turkeypea, Indian Potato)
Apiaceae (Parsley Family)

Foothills, montane. Meadows. Spring.
Dolores Plateau, April 26, 2009.

Thick roots are either fusiform (thick and tapering to each end) or globose.

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 Orogenia linearifolia