''Balsamorhiza'' is a genus of plants in the family

Asteraceae Asteraceae () is a large family (biology), family of flowering plants that consists of over 32,000 known species in over 1,900 genera within the Order (biology), order Asterales. The number of species in Asteraceae is rivaled only by the Orchi ...

known commonly as balsamroots. These are perennials with fleshy

taproot A taproot is a large, central, and dominant root from which other roots sprout laterally. Typically a taproot is somewhat straight and very thick, is tapering in shape, and grows directly downward. In some plants, such as the carrot, the 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

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(

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and

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). Native Americans used the sticky sap of this plant as a topical antiseptic for minor wounds. The entire plant is edible and nutritious, but not necessarily enjoyable because it contains a bitter, strongly pine-scented sap. The large taproots produced by '' Balsamorhiza sagittata'' are edible and were harvested, dried, and ground into a starchy flour by Native Americans when other food plants were scarce. The plants' large taproots are reported to be very palatable and far less bitter than the above-ground parts of the plant.Edible and Medicinal Plants of the West, Gregory L. Tilford, 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 appearances and flowering habits. ''Balsamorhiza'' species are easily distinguished from ''Wyethia'' due to their very sharply lanced leaves which lack the ''fuzzy silver gray'' appearance of ''Wyethia'' species. '' Balsamorhiza sagittata'' is the most common and widespread species in the genus within the Mountain West of North America. Palatable to wildlife and livestock, this is a herb that decreases under grazing. Though once covering much of the arid west in spring, this common forb has become uncommon and even disappeared in some areas like the Snake River Plains. The presence of this plant can be used as an indicator of overall range health—fewer plants and flowers indicate over-utilization of pastures and/or allotments. Hillsides covered with these flowers and perennial bunchgrasses and

sagebrush Sagebrush is the common name of several woody and herbaceous species of plants in the genus ''Artemisia (plant), Artemisia''. The best-known sagebrush is the shrub ''Artemisia tridentata''. Sagebrush is native to the western half of North Amer ...

can quickly become wastelands of cheatgrass and tumblemustard if cattle or other stock overgraze, consuming the herb and grass energy reserves again and again until the plants individually die, while crushing their only shade.

Species and nothospecies

There are about 13 species and two

nothospecies #REDIRECT Hybrid name In botanical nomenclature, a hybrid may be given a hybrid name, which is a special kind of botanical name, but there is no requirement that a hybrid name should be created for plants that are believed to be of hybrid origin. ...

: * '' Balsamorhiza × bonseri'' - Washington State * '' Balsamorhiza careyana'' - Carey's balsamroot - Washington, Oregon * '' Balsamorhiza deltoidea'' - deltoid balsamroot - British Columbia, Washington, Oregon, California * '' Balsamorhiza hispidula'' - Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Oregon, Nevada, Colorado, Utah, Arizona * '' Balsamorhiza hookeri'' - Hooker's balsamroot - Washington, Oregon, California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona * '' Balsamorhiza incana'' - hoary balsamroot - Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Oregon, Washington * '' Balsamorhiza lanata'' - lanate balsamroot - Oregon, California * '' Balsamorhiza macrolepis'' - California balsamroot - California * '' Balsamorhiza macrophylla'' - cutleaf balsamroot - Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Oregon, Utah * '' Balsamorhiza rosea'' - rosy balsamroot - Washington, Oregon * '' Balsamorhiza sagittata'' - arrowleaf balsamroot - British Columbia, Alberta, much of western USA * '' Balsamorhiza sericea'' - silky balsamroot - Oregon, California * '' Balsamorhiza serrata'' - serrate balsamroot or toothed balsamroot - Nevada, Washington, Oregon, California * '' Balsamorhiza terebinthacea'' - Washington, Oregon, California * '' Balsamorhiza × tomentosa'' - Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Washington, Oregon

References

External links

CalFlora Database: ''Balsamorhiza''
— ''species + images''. *
USDA Plants Profile for ''Balsamorhiza''
{{Taxonbar, from=Q2473291 Asteraceae genera Flora of Western Canada Flora of the Western United States Taxa named by William Jackson Hooker Taxa named by Thomas Nuttall