Sanicula tuberosa occurs in Oregon, California and Baja California, Mexico. The chief habitats for the species are open gravelly meadows, chaparral, woodland and pine forest from elevation 50 to 850 meters.

Also known as Turkey pea, this member of the parsley family is a perennial herb rising on a slender stem to a height of 80 centimeters. The stem emerges from a nearly spherical tuber that is up to 15 millimeters in diameter. The compound leaves are typically divided into three leaflets. Inflorescences are comprised of one or more heads of flowers with minute curved yellow petals.