where can bitterroot be found

T he plant commonly called bitterroot is found throughout the Rocky Mountains

from British Columbia and Alberta south to California and Colorado, but it is especially abundant in western Montana. By 1889 the valley and its river, bordered by the eastern slopes of a great mountain range, had all three gotten their names from the bitterroot plant.

Full Answer

Where do Bitterroot trees grow in the US?

Bitterroot is commonly found in locations, such as British Columbia through Washington and Oregon. Then, west of Cascade Range to southern California, and eastern to western Montana and Wyoming, as well as northern Colorado and Arizona. The bitterroot plant is even the official state flower of Montana.

How did the Bitterroot get its name?

Three major geographic features – the Bitterroot Mountains (running north–south and forming the divide between Idaho and Montana), the Bitterroot Valley, and the Bitterroot River (which flows south–north, terminating in the Clark Fork river in the city of Missoula) – owe the origins of their names to this flower. ^ William Curtis (1801).

What pH do Bitterroot plants grow in?

Ideally the pH that Bitterroot grows in will be of pH 5 to 8. If you first plan to start Bitteroot off indoors, be aware that they are quite hard to grow. The seeds should be first imbibed by placing the seeds (within soil) in a black plastic bag, then placing in the fridge for five weeks.

Where does the Bitterroot River start and end?

The main stem of the Bitterroot River begins in Conner, MT, where the East Fork and West Fork of the Bitterroot come together. The river flows north for 84 miles, joining the Clark Fork River just below Missoula. The Bitterroot River varies in temperament along its length, with the upper stretch having a higher gradient than the lower section.

What state flower is the Bitterroot?

Montana stateAn enduring part of the culture and landscape of this region, the bitterroot was voted the Montana state flower in 1894. Anyone could vote, no matter age or gender. When the polls closed, 5,857 ballots were in. More than 32 separate flowers received votes.

Where did Lewis and Clark find the Bitterroot?

MontanaLayers of History Lewis and Clark reached the Bitterroot Valley in Montana mid-September 1805.

Where does Bitterroot grow in Montana?

Every spring and summer you can find the Bitterroot growing around the base and valleys of mountains of western Montana. The foliage is succulent and rubbery textured with an exquisite pink blossom that grows close to the ground. The low-growing perennial plant has a fleshy taproot and a branched base.

What makes Bitterroot special?

A perennial, the bitterroot has an exquisite pink blossom which grows close to the ground and its delicate shadings offer the eye one of the loveliest of wildflowers. The bitterroot (Lewisia rediviva) was a logical historical choice.

What roots did Lewis and Clark eat?

Sacagawea proved a valuable member of the team. She was able to identify edible plans and roots that the men had never seen before, including currants, wild licorice and wild onions.

When did Lewis and Clark find the bitterroot plant?

1805In 1895, inspired by its beauty, the people of Montana named this their state flower. Ninety years earlier, the Expedition first encountered the plant. At that time, in late August of 1805, instead of admiring the flower, Meriwether Lewis saw and tasted the root.

Is bitterroot edible?

root is edible when cooked. root has very bitter taste. root is best when gathered just before the flower blooms.

How do you eat bitter root?

Once the skin is removed the roots are set out to dry in the sun. The Shoshone-Bannock would store the roots in parfleche or similar rawhide bags and eat bitterroot throughout the year. Bitterroot would be boiled or pounded down into a meal and mixed with other plants.

What is Montana known for?

The state rightfully earned its motto, "oro y plata," spanish for "gold and silver." The Treasure State is known for its abundant natural and mineral resources, including coal, copper, gold, manganese, sapphire, silver, lead, oil and zinc.

What animal eats bitterroot?

Wildlife Value: Though humans both historically and currently consume bitterroot and the plant is of great cultural significance, the Gray-crowned rosy finch (Leucosticte tephrocotis) utilizes the plant as well. This finch, native to Montana and a species of concern, forages for its seeds.

What is the meaning of bitterroot?

Definition of bitterroot : a succulent herb (Lewisia rediviva) of the purslane family that grows in western North America and has starchy roots and pink or white flowers.

Why is it called the Bitterroot Valley?

The Catholic priests called the river “St. Mary's”. However, the valley, river and mountain range are now named after Montana's state flower, the Bitterroot. The flower has a fleshy root and provided a steady food supply for the Indians long ago.

What did Lewis and Clark eat in the Bitterroot Mountains?

After 11 days in the Bitterroots, the horses were near starvation, the men who resorted to eating three of the colts—not much better.

Who guided Lewis and Clark through the Bitterroot Mountains?

Toby, the name used by Lewis and Clark for the Shoshone guide who took them across the Bitterroot Mountains on their journey to the Pacific, was one of the more important, if enigmatic, of the many Native Americans who assisted the explorers on their epic trip.

When did Lewis and Clark cross Lolo Pass?

Lewis and Clark and the pass On July 1, 1806, at Traveler's Rest on Lolo Creek in the Bitterroot Valley, Lewis and Clark split into two separate parties.

Did Lewis and Clark go over Lolo Pass?

Lewis and Clark NHT Visitor Centers and Museums In mid-September 1805, the Lewis and Clark Expedition reached the historic Lolo Trail.

What tribes eat bitterroot?

The roots were consumed by tribes such as the Shoshone and the Flathead Indians as an infrequent delicacy. Traditionally, the Ktunaxa cooked bitterroot with grouse. For the Ktunaxa, bitterroot is eaten with sugar; other tribes prefer eating it with salt.

When do bitterroots bloom?

They range in color from whitish to deep pink or lavender. Flowering occurs from April through July. The petals (usually about 15) are oblong in shape and are 18–35 millimetres (0.7–1.4 in) long. At maturity, the bitterroot produces egg-shaped capsules with 6–20 nearly round seeds.

What did Meriwether Lewis eat?

Meriwether Lewis ate bitterroot in 1805 and 1806 during the Lewis and Clark Expedition. The specimens he brought back were identified and given their scientific name, Lewisia rediviva, by a German-American botanist, Frederick Pursh.

When was bitterroot chosen as the Montana state flower?

The bitterroot was selected as the Montana state flower in 1895.

Where is the sage plant native to?

The plant is native to western North America from low to moderate elevations on grassland, open bushland, forest in dry rocky or gravelly soils. Its range extends from southern British Columbia, through Washington and Oregon west of the Cascade Range to southern California, and east to western Montana, Wyoming, northern Colorado and northern Arizona.

What is the name of the herb that regenerates from dead roots?

Lewisia rediviva. Pursh. Bitterroot ( Lewisia rediviva) is a small perennial herb in the family Montiaceae. Its specific epithet rediviva ("revived, reborn") refers to its ability to regenerate from dry and seemingly dead roots.

Where did the bitterroot grow?

Each year, before the plant flowered, American Indians collected this important food source, which grows from California to Montana, and from British Columbia to Arizona. Along the Trail, the Northern Shoshone, Flathead, and Nez Perce harvested the bitterroot. Many other tribes throughout the bitterroot’s range also collected and traded the highly valued plant.

Where did Lewis encounter bitterroot?

Nearly a year after his first taste of bitterroot, Lewis again encountered the plant. In early July of 1806, at Traveler’s Rest in western Montana, Lewis collected a bitterroot plant, and three other species, to add to the collection he would present to President Jefferson. His only record of this encounter with the bitterroot notes that, “I found several other uncommon plants specemines of which I preserved.”

Who first tasted bitterroot?

Ninety years earlier, the Expedition first encountered the plant. At that time, in late August of 1805, instead of admiring the flower, Meriwether Lewis saw and tasted the root. Writing in his journal, Lewis described the root as “cilindric and as white as snow throughout, except some small parts of the hard black rind which they had not seperated in the preperation… [the roots] became perfectly soft by boiling, but had a very bitter taste, which was naucious to my pallate, and [I] transfered them to the Indians who had eat them heartily.” Given this description, Lewis might vigorously endorse the common name of this plant: bitterroot.

What is the name of the plant that Meriwether Lewis planted?

Upon the Expedition’s return, the bitterroot became one of 134 plant specimens presented to Frederick Pursh for analysis and identification. Pursh gave the plant its scientific name, Lewisia rediviva, commemorating Meriwether Lewis’s role in bringing the plant to the attention of western science and describing the plant’s apparent ability to return from the dead. In his Flora Americae Septentrionalis, Pursh noted that the specimen Lewis carried from Montana, deprived of water and soil for several years, had been planted. Although no flower blossomed, Lewis's bitterroot had “vegetated for more than one year.” Rediviva, a Latin word, translates to “brought back to life.”

Where is Bitterroot native to?

Lewisia rediviva is known commonly as Bitterroot, a plant that is a part of the Montiaceae family and that is native to western North America. Originally, this plant was a member of the Purslane family due to its growth requirements and succulent-like appearance but was later categorized. Bitterroot is also known by several alternative names, including black medicine, spetium, and gentian.

What is bitterroot flower?

This flower blooms between May and June, and can be found most commonly in a pink-purple color, but also in white. Bitterroot is known by its name because of its two main characteristics: its main taproot system and of having a bitter taste. The taproot may have one single base or have branches that stem off of the main base. The stems on the Bitterroot flower are leafless and can reach between one and three centimeters tall, with a single flower that blooms at the end of each stem. Each flower has between five and nine oval-shaped petals. Once the plant reaches maturity, bitterroot will produce egg-shaped seeds, anywhere from six to 20 at a time.

Who discovered bitterroot?

The scientific name, Lewisia rediviva, stems from when bitterroot was officially discovered by Meriweather Lewis, of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. Yet, bitterroot has been used in many tribes and native cultures before the said expedition. Tribes that are known to have used and eaten bitterroot include the Shoshone, Bitterroot Salish, and the Lakota Sioux. Although too bitter for the Europeans taste, tribes consumed the root as a delicacy.

Is bitterroot a good plant for foraging?

However, some have reported strong effects after consuming bitterroot, so it is best to start small in foraging and using this plant. Although harvesting bitterroot may not be the most filling option in the diverse world of foraging plants, it might be still one to consider in connecting with nature and North America’s heritage as a whole.

Where does bitterroot grow?

Bitterroot also grows in the Southern Okanagan and the Southern Columbia Valley in B.C.

How long do bitterroot flowers last?

The flowers only open in the sun and only last for 2-3 days. The mostly linear, succulent leaves are found at the base but may already be withering by the time the blooms appear. All photos were taken by the author. Click an image for a larger picture and a caption. bitterroot (Ashcroft)

What is the name of the plant that eats the roots?

bitterroot (Ashcroft) bitterroot (Ashcroft) bitterroot (Ashcroft) Dark brown shiny seeds form in capsules after flowering. A number of First Nations groups gathered, stored, and ate the roots over the winter. The plant was named after Meriwether Lewis (of Lewis and Clarke). A biography titled “Bitterroot: The Life and Death ...

How to grow bitterroot from seeds?

How to Grow Bitterroot - Lewisia. Bitteroot can be grown from seeds outdoors by sowing fresh ripe seeds on the surface when available (late autumn/ early winter). They can grow in either sunny or lightly shaded areas of the garden that have a rich, gritty and moist soil.

How long does it take for Bitteroot to grow?

Seeds should then be sown out at a temperature of 10 to 15 degrees Celsius; they can take anything from one to two years to germinate. They should be allowed to grow for a further year before transplanting outside.

What is the common name for Lewisia?

One of the common names for Lewisia is Bitterroot.

Can rosette runners survive in dry soil?

Can survive in dry soils. Very susceptible to crown rot; overcome this by moving the crowns so that they are about an inch (2.5 cm) above the ground and surround/mulch with gravel. Plants prefer a moist soil, but when watering do not splash plants. Propagate: from rosette runners in the summer.

Where can I find rubies in Montana?

Rubies are found in the western and southern portions of Montana, and this gemstone is often found alongside Montana sapphires. Some of the best places to find rubies in Montana include the Rock Creek, Granite county, Red Rock Mine, or the Missouri River.

What are the rarest agates in Montana?

Speaking of agates, in Montana, there are two relatively rare yet beautiful specimens of agates, namely the dryhead agates mentioned earlier and the Montana moss agates.

What Kind of Rocks Are in Montana?

There are plenty of precious or semi-precious stones to be found in Montana; however, some common specimens include geodes, agates, jasper, or serpentine, among others.

What Minerals Are Found in Montana?

Montana may be rich in gold, but overall, it is fair to say that it is rich in all kinds of rare or common minerals. Apart from gold, you can find in Montana minerals such as jade, diamonds, garnets, chromite, chalcedony, corundum, rhodonite, and staurolite, among many other precious specimens.

Where to Find Dinosaur Fossils in Montana?

Eastern Montana is famous for its dinosaur fossils as some of the most remarkable paleontological discoveries on our planet have been made here, and in Dakota, unveiling dinosaur fossils such as that of the famous Tyrannosaurus Rex, Triceraptors, Hadrosaurs, and others.

Which state is the best for rockhounding?

Being one of the richest states where collectors can rejoice in their hobbies and find interesting specimens at almost every step, Montana is undoubtedly among the best locations for rockhounding in the United States.

Which state has the most rare rocks?

Montana is among the wealthiest states for rockhounding in its variety of precious, semi-precious stones or rare variants of common rocks such as agates. With its eastern parts filled with magnificent world-class fossils of dinosaurs, and its western parts abundant in various rare minerals, it isn’t a place that you want to miss.

Where does the Bitterroot River flow?

The river flows north for 84 miles, joining the Clark Fork River just below Missoula.

How deep is the Bitterroot River?

Once you’ve gone south to Florence Bridge and above, the average depth of the Bitterroot is about three feet. This is on a western Montana trout river that can be over 125 feet wide in places.

Why is the Bitterroot trout river called Betternot?

While it can be as easy a river to fly fish in Montana, some of the guides call it the “Betternot” because when the Bitterroot trout close their mouths, they stay closed! It can be the most challenging river in the area, and some days a couple of fish are a real accomplishment. But in that lays its charm.

What is the name of the river in Montana?

As you head south, upriver, you’re flanked by the Sapphire Mountains, one of the most beautiful ranges in Montana. The Bitterroot River is a freestone river, deriving most of its streamflow from snowmelt, and averages about 700 trout per mile along its length, with trout over 23 inches being caught yearly. Great fly fishing and great scenery is the ...

Is the Bitterroot River dangerous?

As an aside about floating the Bitterroot River- by statistic, it’s one of the most dangerous rivers in Montana. We surmise this stems from the Bitterroot’s benign look in the lower sections. When you float the Blackfoot River or Rock Creek, it’s fast, roily and a little intimidating.

Where to find golden stoneflies in Montana?

The golden stoneflies are found along the length of the river, as are the mayflies and caddis. As with all rivers in Missoula, and across Montana, fly fishing the end of run-off is prime time. As the water levels drop into August, the river can get very low, and the fish very snotty!

Is the Bitterroot River a good place to fly fish?

But that just adds to the special feeling you get when you’re there at the right time, in the right place. The Bitterroot River is a special place, with so much to recommend it. Scenery, fly fishing and the chance for an epic day with an epic hatch. That’s the Bitterroot!

Overview

Description

Distribution

History and culture

Further reading

External links