General: King's Angelica (Angelica kingii) is an upright perennial forb (to 6-ft tall) with large, compound leaves (to 2-ft long) that are divided into three sets of three leaflet each. The inflorescence is a compound umbel, forming a big ball of white flowers. Oblong fruits can remain on old flower stalks. The petal-backs are pubescent (feel soft-hairy), and the fruits are 4-5 mm long.

There are two species of Angelica in the Spring Mountains that look similar. King angelica has leaves finely divided and dark green, and the petal-backs are pubescent. In contrast, Charleston Mountain Angelica, has leaves more coarsely divided and lighter green, and the petal-backs are scabrous.

King's Angelica is a fairly common component of mountain communities with damp or wet soils. Around Las Vegas, look for this species in the Upper Sonoran (Mojave Desert Scrub and Pinyon-Juniper Woodland), Transition (Yellow Pine Forest), and Canadian (Pine-Fir Forest) life zones up on Mt. Charleston and in the other mountains around Las Vegas.

Charleston Mountain Angelica is rare and only grows in Kyle Canyon on Mt. Charleston and in a few places at Red Rock Canyon NCA.

Family: Parsley (Apiaceae)

Other Names:

Plant Form: Upright, herbaceous plant with large leaves.

Height: To about 6 feet.

Stems: Erect, hollow.

Leaves: Compound (twice pinnate), divided into three sets of three leaflet each. Leaflets to about 15 inches long; ovate to lanceolate; margin serrate with small spines on the tips of each point. Glabrous.

Flowers: Blooms in the spring. Inflorescence: compound umbels. Flowers white (sometimes pink, red, purple) with 5 petals and pubescent petal-backs.

Fruit: oblong; short (4-5 mm long).

Habitat: Damp and wet soils in the mountains.

Elevation: About 7,000 to 10,400 feet.

Distribution: California, Nevada, Utah, Idaho

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