 |
Bitterroot |
BigSkyKatie posted a photo:
Another take on the bitterroot (Lewisia rediviva)
" Lewis and Clark are credited with the "discovery" of the bitterroot plant (Lewisia Rediviva) in the Montana valley which was eventually named after it. It was known as Spetlum to the Native American peoples and had been an important part of their diet for unknown generations. The tribe’s spring migrations were timed to coincide with the blooming of the bitterroot and often scouts would be sent out to alert the tribe to the readiness of the plant for harvesting.
Indian women dug, cleaned and boiled the root of the plant and then mixed it with meat or berries. Hunting expeditions and war parties often carried patties made from a mixture of pulverized root, deer fat and moss. At trading centers a sackful of bitterroot commanded a high price and could often be traded for a horse.
The species name rediviva refers to the hardiness of the plant. A bitterroot can live for over a year without water and is usually found growing in gravelly, dry soil. It is low-growing perennial with a fleshy taproot and has a branched base. In May and June a single flower will appear on each stem ranging in color from white to a deep pink or rose. When mature the bitterroot produces egg-shaped capsules which contain 6-20 nearly round seeds."
Source: www.saintmarysmission.org/Bitterroot.html
© Katie LaSalle-Lowery
www.bigskycountry.net
More: continued here
This entry was posted on Tuesday, July 15th, 2008 at 9:07 am and is filed under Native Photos. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
Leave a comment