Balsamorhiza
Encyclopedia
Balsamorhiza is a genus of plants in the sunflower family
known commonly as balsamroots. These are perennials with fleshy taproot
s and caudices
bearing erect stems and large, basal leaves. Atop the tall stems are showy yellow sunflower-like blooms. Balsamroots are native to western North America. There are about twelve species plus many common hybrids.
are edible and were harvested, dried, and ground into a starchy flour by Native Americans when other food plants were scarce. The entire plant is edible and nutritious, but not necessarily enjoyable because it contains a bitter, strongly pine-scented sap. The plants large taproots are reported to be very palatable and far less bitter than the above ground parts of the plant.
The plant grows on dry hillsides and dry open meadows throughout the Mountain West of North America. The plant can be easily confused with species belonging to the genus Wyethia
(Mule's ears) and Wyethia and Balsamorhiza tend to have very similar appearance and flowering habits. Wyethia species are easily distinguised from Balsamorhiza due to their very sharply lanced leaves which lack the fuzzy silver gray appearance of Balsamorhiza species. Balsamorhiza sagittata
is the most common and widespread species in the genus within the Mountain West of North America.
Asteraceae
The Asteraceae or Compositae , is an exceedingly large and widespread family of vascular plants. The group has more than 22,750 currently accepted species, spread across 1620 genera and 12 subfamilies...
known commonly as balsamroots. These are perennials with fleshy taproot
Taproot
A taproot is an enlarged, somewhat straight to tapering plant root that grows vertically downward. It forms a center from which other roots sprout laterally.Plants with taproots are difficult to transplant...
s and caudices
Caudex
A caudex is a form of stem morphology appearing as a thickened, short, perennial stem that is either underground or near ground level . It may be swollen for the purpose of water storage, especially in xerophytes...
bearing erect stems and large, basal leaves. Atop the tall stems are showy yellow sunflower-like blooms. Balsamroots are native to western North America. There are about twelve species plus many common hybrids.
Uses
Native Americans used the sticky sap of this plant as a topical antiseptic for minor wounds. The large taproots produced by Balsamorhiza sagittataBalsamorhiza sagittata
Balsamorhiza sagittata is a species of flowering plant in the sunflower tribe of the plant family Asteraceae known by the common name arrowleaf balsamroot. It is native to much of western North America from British Columbia to California to the Dakotas, where it grows in many types of habitat from...
are edible and were harvested, dried, and ground into a starchy flour by Native Americans when other food plants were scarce. The entire plant is edible and nutritious, but not necessarily enjoyable because it contains a bitter, strongly pine-scented sap. The plants large taproots are reported to be very palatable and far less bitter than the above ground parts of the plant.
The plant grows on dry hillsides and dry open meadows throughout the Mountain West of North America. The plant can be easily confused with species belonging to the genus Wyethia
Wyethia
Wyethia is a genus of flowering plants in the sunflower family commonly referred to as mule's ears. These are short, low to the ground golden-rayed wildflowers that resemble miniature sunflowers.Selected species:...
(Mule's ears) and Wyethia and Balsamorhiza tend to have very similar appearance and flowering habits. Wyethia species are easily distinguised from Balsamorhiza due to their very sharply lanced leaves which lack the fuzzy silver gray appearance of Balsamorhiza species. Balsamorhiza sagittata
Balsamorhiza sagittata
Balsamorhiza sagittata is a species of flowering plant in the sunflower tribe of the plant family Asteraceae known by the common name arrowleaf balsamroot. It is native to much of western North America from British Columbia to California to the Dakotas, where it grows in many types of habitat from...
is the most common and widespread species in the genus within the Mountain West of North America.
Species
- Balsamorhiza careyana - Carey's balsamroot
- Balsamorhiza deltoideaBalsamorhiza deltoideaBalsamorhiza deltoidea is a species of flowering plant in the sunflower tribe of the plant family Asteraceae known by the common name deltoid balsamroot...
- deltoid balsamroot - Balsamorhiza hookeri - Hooker's balsamroot
- Balsamorhiza incana - hoary balsamroot
- Balsamorhiza lanata - lanate balsamroot
- Balsamorhiza macrolepisBalsamorhiza macrolepisBalsamorhiza macrolepis is a species of flowering plant in the sunflower tribe of the plant family Asteraceae known by the common name California balsamroot...
- California balsamroot - Balsamorhiza macrophylla - cutleaf balsamroot
- Balsamorhiza rosea - rosy balsamroot
- Balsamorhiza sagittataBalsamorhiza sagittataBalsamorhiza sagittata is a species of flowering plant in the sunflower tribe of the plant family Asteraceae known by the common name arrowleaf balsamroot. It is native to much of western North America from British Columbia to California to the Dakotas, where it grows in many types of habitat from...
- arrowleaf balsamroot - Balsamorhiza sericeaBalsamorhiza sericeaBalsamorhiza sericea is a species of flowering plant in the sunflower tribe of the plant family Asteraceae known by the common name silky balsamroot...
- silky balsamroot - Balsamorhiza serrata - serrate balsamroot or toothed balsamroot