14. BITTERROOTPortulaca Family
Lewisia rediviva
This beautiful, dwarfed plant, never more than an inch or two high, is found during May mostly on the lava fields of the Transition Zone in Zion National Park. Its flower of white petals with pink veins is about 2 inches in diameter.
The Bitterroot was discovered in 1805 by the Lewis and Clark expedition while passing through western Montana. It was later named Lewisia rediviva by the botanist Pursh.
The plant is of economic importance to the Northwestern Indians, who discovered that the bitter, parsnip-shaped roots possess a nutritious heart of starch, which cooking reduces to a pasty mass, palatable, at least, to Indian taste.
Bitterroot
15. MARSHMARIGOLDButtercup Family
Caltha leptosepala
A plant of the high elevations, generally above 9,000 feet, and found abundantly at Cedar Breaks, where it comes into bloom almost as soon as the first patches of bare ground appear. Coming out usually in April or May, depending on the season, Marshmarigolds are among the earliest blooming flowers of the high elevations and often carpet the alpine meadows with a spread of white blossoms.
The white sepals, that make up the showy flower, are often mistaken for petals, which are absent. The mass of anthers of the stamens give the flower its brilliant yellow center.
