Coast Angelica

(Angelica hendersonii)

 

Coast Angelica is found on the coastal bluffs at the north end of Baker Beach and at Fort Point.

Will Elder, NPS

 

Origin Of Genus Name: Angelica is Latin for "angelic."

Presidio Locations: Found in coastal bluff scrub.

Range In State: Northern and Central coastal California.

Description: This native perennial of the Carrot Family has numerous tiny white flowers in clusters forming multiple 5-6" umbels on a single, coarse, stout stalk up to 3 feet in height. A distinctive "puckered pod" forms at top of the stalk before flowers. Leaves are divided 2-3 times into rounded, toothed leaflets, woolly below. Hendersonii is named for Louis Fourniquet Henderson, early 19th century botanist. Blooms June to November.

Native Californian Uses: Heated leaves were used by the Ohlone for skin disorders. They treated headaches by inhaling the smoke from burning roots and applied burned twigs for rheumatic pains.

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