Cymopterus

Cymopterus
Cymopterus newberryi
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Asterids
Order:	Apiales
Family:	Apiaceae
Subfamily:	Apioideae
Tribe:	Selineae
Genus:	Cymopterus Raf.
Species
See text.
Synonyms [1]
Aulospermum J.M.Coult. & Rose Coloptera J.M.Coult. & Rose Coriophyllus Rydb. Epallageiton Koso-Pol. Leptocnemia Nutt. Pseudocymopterus J.M.Coult. & Rose Pseudopteryxia Rydb. Pseudoreoxis Rydb. Pteryxia Nutt. Rhysopterus J.M.Coult. & Rose Ryssosciadium Kuntze

Cymopterus is a genus of perennial plants in the family Apiaceae native to western North America. They are commonly known as the spring parsleys ^[2] and are edible. They are mostly stemless, taprooted perennial herbs with leaves at ground level and flowering scapes bearing yellow, white, or purple flowers. ^[3]

Taxonomy

The taxonomy of this genus was described as confused in 2004, even after many decades of study. ^[4] Authors have organized it in different ways, sometimes including several closely related Apiaceae genera within it. ^[4] Genera recently segregated from Cymopterus include Vesper , six plants with morphological characters that are well-defined and easily separated from Cymopterus; the group has been separated before, but was reintegrated during repeated reorganizations of the genus. ^[5] The number of accepted species has varied between about 50 ^[3] to about 35. ^{[6] [1]}

The genus was named by Constantine Samuel Rafinesque in 1819. ^[1]

Species

Cymopterus glomeratus

Cymopterus nivalis

Plants of the World Online lists 42 accepted species: ^[1]

• Cymopterus aboriginum M.E.Jones – Indian parsnip, Indian springparsley
• Cymopterus alpinus A.Gray
• Cymopterus basalticus M.E.Jones – basalt springparsley
• Cymopterus beckii S.L.Welsh & Goodrich – featherleaf springparsley
• Cymopterus cinerarius A.Gray – gray springparsley
• Cymopterus corrugatus M.E.Jones
• Cymopterus coulteri (M.E.Jones) Mathias
• Cymopterus crawfordensis K.Moon, S.L.Welsh & Goodrich
• Cymopterus davidsonii (J.M.Coult. & Rose) R.L.Hartm.
• Cymopterus davisii R.L.Hartm. – Davis' springparsley
• Cymopterus deserticola Brandegee – desert springparsley
• Cymopterus douglassii R.L.Hartm. & Constance – Douglass' springparsley
• Cymopterus duchesnensis M.E.Jones – Duchesne biscuitroot, Uinta Basin springparsley
• Cymopterus evertii R.L.Hartm. & R.S.Kirkp. – Evert's springparsley
• Cymopterus gilmanii C.V.Morton – Gilman's springparsley
• Cymopterus glaucus Nutt. – smooth springparsley, waxy springparsley
• Cymopterus globosus (S.Watson) S.Watson – globe springparsley
• Cymopterus glomeratus (Nutt.) DC. – plains springparsley
• Cymopterus goodrichii S.L.Welsh & Neese – Goodrich's springparsley, Toiyabe springparsley
• Cymopterus hendersonii (J.M.Coult. & Rose) Cronquist
• Cymopterus ibapensis M.E.Jones
• Cymopterus jonesii J.M.Coult. & Rose – Jones' springparsley
• Cymopterus lapidosus (M.E.Jones) M.E.Jones
• Cymopterus lemmonii (J.M.Coult. & Rose) Dorn
• Cymopterus longilobus (Rydb.) W.A.Weber
• Cymopterus longipes S.Watson – longstalk springparsley, sprawling springparsley
• Cymopterus longiradiatus (Mathias, Constance & W.L.Theob.) B.L.Turner
• Cymopterus macdougalii (J.M.Coult. & Rose) Tidestr.
• Cymopterus megacephalus M.E.Jones – largeleaf springparsley
• Cymopterus minimus (Mathias) Mathias – Cedar Breaks springparsley
• Cymopterus newberryi (S.Watson) M.E.Jones – sweetroot springparsley, sticky springparsley
• Cymopterus nivalis S.Watson – snowline springparsley, Elko springparsley
• Cymopterus panamintensis J.M.Coult. & Rose – Panamint springparsley
• Cymopterus petraeus M.E.Jones
• Cymopterus purpureus S.Watson – purple springparsley, Colorado Plateau springparsley, variable springparsley
• Cymopterus ripleyi Barneby – Ripley's springparsley
• Cymopterus rosei (M.E.Jones ex J.M.Coult. & Rose) M.E.Jones – Rose's springparsley
• Cymopterus sessiliflorus (W.L.Theob. & C.C.Tseng) R.L.Hartm.
• Cymopterus spellenbergii R.L.Hartm. & J.E.Larson
• Cymopterus terebinthinus (Hook.) Torr. & A.Gray – turpentine wavewing
• Cymopterus trotteri (S.L.Welsh & Goodrich) Cronquist
• Cymopterus williamsii R.L.Hartm. & Constance – Williams' springparsley

Formerly included here

• Vesper multinervatus (as Cymopterus multinervatus)
• Vesper purpurascens (as Cymopterus purpurascens)
• Oreoxis humilis (as Cymopterus humilis) ^[7]

References

1. "Cymopterus Raf". Plants of the World Online . Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew . Retrieved 11 October 2025.
2. Cymopterus. USDA PLANTS.
3. Cymopterus. The Jepson eFlora 2013.
4. Sun, F. and S. R. Downie. (2004). A molecular systematic investigation of Cymopterus and its allies (Apiaceae) based on phylogenetic analyses of nuclear (ITS) and plastid (rps16 intron) DNA sequences. South African Journal of Botany 70(3), 407-16.
5. Hartman, R. L. and G. L. Nesom. (2012). Taxonomy of the genus Vesper (Apiaceae). Phytoneuron 94 1-9.
6. Downie, S. R., et al. (2002). Polyphyly of the spring-parsleys (Cymopterus): molecular and morphological evidence suggests complex relationships among the perennial endemic genera of western North American Apiaceae. Canadian Journal of Botany 80(12), 1295-1324.
7. "Cymopterus humilis (Raf.) Tidestr". Plants of the World Online . Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew . Retrieved 11 October 2025.

Further reading

• Sun, F. J. and S. R. Downie. (2010). Phylogenetic relationships among the perennial, endemic Apiaceae subfamily Apioideae of western North America: additional data from the cpDNA trnF-trnL-trnT region continue to support a highly polyphyletic Cymopterus. Plant Diversity and Evolution 128(1-2), 151-72.