title: Cymopterus terebinthinus
text: # Cymopterus terebinthinus
  
  Cymopterus terebinthinus is a perennial plant in the carrot family Apiaceae with leaves that look like parsley and grows in the Great Basin of the American West. Common names include Aromatic spring-parsley, northern Indian parsnip, and turpentine cymopterus.
  
  ## Name
  
  Cymopterus means "wavy wing", referring to the fruit. Terebinthinus ('of turpentine') refers to the pungent smell of the plant's oil.
  
  ## Description
  
  ### Growth pattern
  
  It is a low growing perennial plant from 1⁄2 to 2 feet (0.15 to 0.61 m) tall, spreading out from a woody base.
  
  ### Leaves and stems
  
  Leaves are 1⁄2 to 8 inches (1.3 to 20.3 cm) long. Leaves are ovate overall, but finely pinnately dissected into segments like parsley leaves. Leaves are strongly aromatic when crushed. "Terebinthus" means "like-turpentine", referring to the scented oils in the plant.
  
  ### Inflorescence and fruit
  
  The inflorescence is a peduncle with 3-24 rays, each 1⁄2 to 3 inches (1.3 to 7.6 cm) long, bearing minuscule 5-petaled yellow flowers.
  
  ## Distribution and habitat
  
  It grows on dry, sandy or rocky slopes, typically around rocks, from 5,000 to 9,000 feet (1,500 to 2,700 m) in sagebrush steppe and montane plant communities of the Great Basin. It can be found in the Toiyabe Range and Deep Creek Mountains.
  
  ## Ecology
  
  It is a host for Papilio indra.
  
  Some Plateau Indian tribes chewed the roots to treat colds and sores.
  
  