1. Osmorhiza claytonii (Michx.) C.B. Clarke (sweet cicely, woolly sweet cicely)

Pl. 209 a, b; Map 870

Plants (especially the roots) not or only slightly anise-scented. Stems 30–90 cm long, sparsely to more commonly densely pubescent with spreading hairs, rarely glabrous. Leaf blades 4–30 cm long. Leaflets 3–8 cm long. Rays 2–8 cm long. Styles shorter than the petals at flowering, 0.5–1.5 mm long at fruiting. Fruits (12–)15–24 mm long. 2n=22. April–June.

Scattered nearly throughout the state, most commonly north of the Missouri River (northeastern U.S. west to North Dakota and Arkansas; Canada). Bottomland forests, mesic upland forests, often in ravines, and banks of streams.

Of the two species of Osmorhiza in Missouri, O. claytonii appears to be by far the less common. Although O. claytonii tends to be a somewhat shorter, more slender plant than O. longistylis, vegetatively the two species can be difficult to separate. The strong anise-scent of the latter species, particularly of the roots, is a useful character in separating the two, although care must be taken, as the roots of O. claytonii occasionally have a faint odor of anise (Pimpinella anisum L.) as well.