Bitterroot

Taproots gradually ramified distally. Stems procumbent to erect, 1-3 cm. Leaves: basal leaves withering at or soon after anthesis, sessile, blade linear to clavate, subterete or grooved adaxially, 0.5-5 cm, margins entire, apex obtuse to subacute; cauline leaves absent. Inflores-cences with flowers borne singly; bracts 4-7(-8), whorled, subulate to linear-lanceolate, 4-10 mm, margins entire, apex acuminate. Flowers pedicellate, disarticulate in fruit; sepals (4-)6-9, broadly elliptic to ovate, 10-25 mm, scarious after anthesis, margins entire to somewhat erose, apex obtuse to rounded; petals 10-19, usually rose to pink, sometimes lavender, sometimes with paler or white centers, or wholly white, elliptic, oblong, or narrowly oblanceolate, 15-35 mm; stamens 20-50; stigmas 4-9; pedicel (1-)3-15(-30) mm. Capsules 5-6 mm. Seeds 6-25, 2-2.5 mm, shiny, minutely papillate. 2n = 26, 28.

Varieties 2 (2 in the flora): w North America.

Native Americans commonly ate the boiled roots of Lewisia rediviva.