Kingdom Plantae Family Apiaceae Scientific name Sanicula arguta | Order Apiales Genus Sanicula Rank Species | |
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Similar Sanicula tuberosa, Sanicula crassicaulis, Sanicula arctopoides, Sanicula graveolens, Sanicula bipinnatifida | ||
Sanicula arguta is a species of flowering plant in the parsley family known by the common names sharptooth sanicle and sharptooth blacksnakeroot.
It is native to the coastal hills and mountains of the central coast and southern California and Baja California, the San Francisco Bay Area, and the Channel Islands. It grows in many types of local habitat, including California chaparral and woodlands.
Description
Sanicula arguta is a perennial herb growing from a thick taproot resembling a turnip. The plant is mostly erect, growing up to half a meter tall. The leaves are up to 10 centimeters long and are divided into several sharp-toothed lobes.
The inflorescence is made up of one or more heads of bisexual and male-only flowers with tiny, curving, golden yellow petals. The prickly fruits are about half a centimeter long.