Colorado Plant Database
| IDENTIFICATION |
| Common Name: |
PORTER LOVAGE |
| Family: |
Parsley - Apiaceae |
| Scientific Name: |
Ligusticum porteri |
| Meaning of Name: |
for Thomas Porter, botanist and graduate of Princeton Theological Seminary, who published the first Colorado flora in 1874. |
| Key Characteristics: |
ultimate leaf lobes with many lateral veins as conspicuous as mid-vein; plant over 1 meter tall; flower cluster convex. |
| Flower Types: |
umbel |
| Flower Color: |
white to pinkish-white. |
| Leaf Type: |
compound (divided into 2 or more similar parts). |
| Mature Height: |
to 3.5 feet. |
| Habitat: |
ravines, forest openings, aspen groves. |
| ECOLOGY |
| Growth Form: |
herbaceous |
| Growth Duration: |
perennial |
| Angio/Gymnosperm: |
angiosperm (plant with covered seed). |
| Monocot/Dicot: |
dicot (plants with two seed leaves and netted leaf veins). |
| Life Zone: |
foothills to subalpine. |
| Frequency: |
common |
| Native/Alien: |
native |
| Season of Bloom: |
summer (Jun. - Aug.). |
| Eco Relationships: |
members of the parsley family are pollinated by a wide variety of insects but especially by flies and other short-tongued insects due to their easily available nectar; self-fertile; acts as a catnip for black bear who will eat the plant, root, and roll in it. |
| HUMAN USES |
| Edibilty: |
considered to have antiviral properties and useful for colds, flu, bronchitis and coughs; also considered effective for indigestion; seeds and leaves can be used as culinary herb; very similar in appearance to highly poisonous plants in this family. |
| LANDSCAPING |
| Landscaping Use: |
cultivated beds. |
| Light Requirement: |
shade intolerant. |
Version: 2.3.0 Release Date: Jan 2009 ©2009 Jefferson County ITS
