Native Plants

Plant Database

Search for native plants by scientific name, common name or family. If you are not sure what you are looking for, try the Combination Search or our Recommended Species lists.

Enter a Plant Name:
Or you can choose a plant family:

Le Duc, F. Alice

Sphenosciadium capitellatum

Sphenosciadium capitellatum A. Gray

Woollyhead Parsnip, Swamp Whiteheads

Apiaceae (Carrot Family)

Synonym(s):

USDA Symbol: SPCA5

USDA Native Status: L48 (N)

A stout tall plant with numerous tiny white flowers in compact, separate, white "buttons" at ends of hairy branches.

The genus name comes from the Greek sphen ("wedge") and skias ("umbrella"), probably referring to the shape of the flower cluster.

From the Image Gallery

1 photo(s) available in the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Fruit Type: Schizocarp
Size Notes: Up to about 6 feet tall.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: White
Bloom Time: Jul , Aug

Distribution

USA: CA , ID , NV , OR
Native Distribution: Eastern Oregon and central Idaho south to southern California mountains.
Native Habitat: Wet meadows, swamps, and streambanks from foothills to moderate elevations.

National Wetland Indicator Status

Region:	AGCP	AK	AW	CB	EMP	GP	HI	MW	NCNE	WMVE
Status:			FACW							FACW

This information is derived from: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. (2023). 2022 National Wetland Plant List, version 3.6. U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center, Vicksburg, MS. https://wetland-plants.usace.army.mil/. Click here for map of regions.

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is on display at the following locations:

Santa Barbara Botanic Garden - Santa Barbara, CA

Web Reference

Webref 30 - Calflora (2018) Calflora
Webref 36 - Jepson eFlora (2019) The Jepson Herbarium, University of California, Berkeley
Webref 23 - Southwest Environmental Information Network (2009) SEINet - Arizona Chapter

Additional resources

USDA: Find Sphenosciadium capitellatum in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Sphenosciadium capitellatum in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Sphenosciadium capitellatum

Metadata

Record Modified: 2026-05-18
Research By: TWC Staff

Go back