It is quite common here in Eastern Washington. The older plants have a very large root. And they sometimes have very protective large grubs that will attack you. I am not kidding. These things are aggressive and up to 3 inches long and come out of the root and after your hand if you are digging. They are very fat and nearly half an inch in diameter but still move amazingly quickly as if to drive you away from their home in the root.

There is a history of the use of this plant for many things. Check the Internet for more info. Lots out there.

Ken

I can't find the reference now, but L. dissectum can be a long-lived perennial. I suspect that some of these plants are 80 years old. Someone published on this somewhere, but not in a scientific journal. Check with the United Plant Savers.

It became popular in herbal medicine in the 80s I think because someone discovered it had been used by some Nevada tribes during the 1918 influenza pandemic. While they probably tried everything, we don't really know how successful it was. However, the root is very resinous and contains furanone-like compounds. Such compounds are known to inhibit bacterial biofilm formation. I assume the native folks ingested the tea, but they might have sprayed it or bathed in it. Who the heck would know?

Anyway, it is likely that L. dissectum may have been protecting against the secondary bacterial infections that accompany viral influenza. It may not be anti-viral, actually. I'd have to search the natural products literature to get an idea of antiviral properties.

See AskNature.org
www.asknature.org/strategy/...dcfec126aa

It is likely that other species of Lomatium may also contain furanones. However, most of those species are starchy, edible roots. Whereas, L. dissectum is too resinous to eat.

Note too that many people get a "Lomatium rash" from taking the tincture internally. It's not dangerous that I know of, but really shocking the next morning. The root seems to irritate the lymphatic nodes in the groin and under the arms. Many plants in the parsley family can cause a skin rash upon contact that can leave a scar for life. So be careful.