Montiaceae

Montia Family

Desert Redmaids

FAMILY: Montia family (Montiaceae) – Calandrinia genus.

SPECIES: Desert redmaids (Calandrinia ciliata (Ruiz & Pav.) DC. = Calandrinia caulescens Kunth).

TO UTILIZE AS FOOD: Leaves and seeds of desert redmaids are edible. Magenta-maids might be a better name because the flowers are rarely red. A white form also exists. Actually, red refers to the leaves, which often turn vivid shades of red, orange, or yellow in age. Fresh leaves taste like an acrid version of purslane minus the mucilage. They’re too acrid to serve as salad material. Fresh flowers also taste acrid. Boiling these parts greatly reduces the acrid bite, but enough remains to cause irritation. All the herbaceous parts are chewable, except for the stems, which tend to be stringy. The wiry-fleshy roots, which are not reported to be edible, also taste acrid. Seeds alone represent the best part for consumption. Gathering whole plants is easy, but waiting for the seeds is a better option. Little remains of the plants when the seeds are ready to harvest, except for skeletons of stems, dull-brown capsules, and withered leaves. Without flowers or leaves, identifying redmaids is nearly impossible. Prior to maturity, the colorful stems allow for easy recognition. Once fully mature, stem coloration fades to light brown, making the plants difficult to distinguish from the barren landscape. Keen eyesight greatly assists in finding the withered remains. Pairs of hairy bracts investing the 3-parted capsules help confirm the find. Locating colonies in bloom and remembering the locations is a good strategy for finding redmaids when the seeds are ready. Each capsule contains 5-35 shiny black seeds, and each seed is 0.5-1.5 mm in diameter. Seeds readily depart from the capsules and the plants don’t persist, so timing the harvest is important. Larger colonies have plants maturing over a period of several weeks rather than all at once, usually sometime from April to July. Redmaid seeds can be eaten raw or cooked. The raw flavor is neutral and the texture is crunchy rather than hard enough to chip teeth. Cooking brings out the flavor and softens the texture. Toasted seeds taste like popcorn and have a delicately crunchy texture. Boiled seeds taste mild, starchy, oily, and reminiscent of quinoa. It’s a hearty flavor indicating high food value. Redmaid seeds are low in mucilage and free of harsh accents. They lack the ability to thicken soups and stews. Redmaids are ground-hugging plants that tend to attract dirt. Separating the dirt from the seeds can be a nuisance. Chaff and moisture can also be a nuisance. Redmaid capsules split open instantaneously. This effectively scatters the seeds a short distance from the plants and litters the ground like pepper sprinkled from a giant shaker. A few seeds may persist in the capsules, but the majority of seeds depart. This dispersal pattern works against foragers trying to gather the seeds for two reasons. Number one, the seeds are lost. Number two, the capsules burst open when handled, even when handled gently. In addition, the seeds aren’t quite ready to harvest until the capsules burst. This exemplifies the “catch 22” dilemma, a circle of impossibilities. Fortunately, the capsules mature over a period of time, so a few that haven’t yet opened will have mature seeds. The act of harvesting this resource will re-seed a colony. Harvesting helps the plants more than the harvesters. Whole plants can be uprooted, dried, and threshed. They continue to mature after being uprooted, making every effort to produce seeds. Drying is necessary because the seeds stick to moist parts. Drying should be done in a container that can catch the seeds. Standard winnowing techniques are then reasonably effective at isolating the seeds. Overall, desert redmaid seeds are a fine resource, but other parts are rather harsh.

IDENTIFICATION: Only 2 species of the Calandrinia genus are currently recognized in the United States. Most species have been re-classified into the Cistanthe genus, which was formerly called the Calyptridium genus. Both species are essentially the same and found in sandy soils at low elevations. The name redmaids is a reference to the leaves, which often turn vibrant shades of red as the plants mature.

Description of desert redmaids (Calandrinia ciliata): FORM annual, succulent, low-lying plant about 2-20 cm tall; LEAVES simple; alternate; blades ob/lanceolate; margins entire; FLOWERS regular, perfect, ovary superior, and arranged in racemes; pedicels short and subtended by leaf-like bracts; sepals 2, keeled, persistent, and hairy on the margins (ciliate); petals 3-7 (usually 5), free, reddish-purple (or less often white); styles 3-branched; stamens 3-14; FRUITS capsules 3-valved, splitting from top to bottom, and filled with 5-35 seeds; valve margins rolled; SEEDS black, shiny, and hairless; HABITAT sand, gravel, washes, mesas, or disturbed areas in deserts and transition zones; primarily Arizona, California, and Oregon; blooming February to May.

REFERENCES: Desert redmaids (Calandrinia ciliata = Calandrinia caulescens): leaves and seeds Sparkman (p. 232).

Common Pussypaws

FAMILY: Montia family (Montiaceae) – Cistanthe genus.

SPECIES: Common pussypaws or desert potherb (Cistanthe monandra (Nutt.) Hershkovitz = Calyptridium monandrum Nutt.).

TO UTILIZE AS FOOD: Seeds of common pussypaws are edible. Other parts are not reported to be edible, but the leaves were sampled for this reference. Common pussypaws are small plants of spring that produce rosettes of succulent leaves. Early in the season, the spoon-shaped leaves are vibrant green. Older leaves turn shades of red, orange, and yellow. These fall-like colors are a sign of withering. Fresh leaves are crisp, tender, moist, thick, mucilaginous, and free of fibrous material. Acrid overtones range from mild to intense. Mild leaves taste remotely similar to purslane. An earth-tone accent accompanies the flavor. Acrid leaves are best left alone. Common pussypaws are more suitable as potherbs than salad material. Boiling significantly improves the flavor, but even after boiling it’s rather harsh. Common pussypaws colonize suitable habitats, such as sandy washes or the shores of dry lakes. Gathering enough for a meal may take a while because the plants are so small. Seeds of common pussypaws are a better resource than the leaves. These plants have a distinctive form and a preference for open habitats. Both of these factors allow for easy recognition when the seeds are ready to harvest. Observing leaf color is also helpful. Plants turn from green to various shades of red, orange, or yellow, and then finally to brown when the seeds are ready. The transition in color signals the approaching harvest. Seeds are loosely contained in capsules that split open naturally. Each capsule only has a few seeds. Gathering enough for a meal could take all day, but the reward is worth the effort. Timing the harvest is important, because the seeds don’t persist. Winnowing issues are similar to those described under redmaids. Pussypaws are moist and need to be dried prior to winnowing. Otherwise, the seeds will stick to the plants. The seeds are small, black, firm, and shiny. Any method of cooking yields good results. Toasting doesn’t take very long and tends to burn the seeds. Toasted seeds don’t have much aroma. They serve better as coffee than granola and they don’t have any popcorn-like appeal. Boiled seeds taste mild, starchy, earthy, and similar to quinoa. The flavor is also similar to redmaid seeds. No harsh accents are present. The texture becomes mushy after brief boiling and lacks any bran-like aspects. Seeds are definitely the best part of common pussypaws and these plants are prolific seed producers. Common pussypaws grow in colonies scattered across the Southwest. They bloom early and produce seeds from mid spring to early summer.

IDENTIFICATION: Currently, the Cistanthe genus is represented by about 10 species in the United States, all but one of which are native to the Southwest. The genus is difficult to classify because its members have characteristics of many other genera, such as capsules that split open in various ways and flowers with 2 or 3 stigmas. In all but one species, the capsules split from top to bottom rather than around the equators. In older references, the Cistanthe genus was called Calyptridium. Although the genus name has changed, species names remain the same.

Description of common pussypaws (Cistanthe monandra): FORM small, low-lying, succulent plants emerging from slender taproots; the stems to about 20 cm long; LEAVES simple; basal and alternate; blades ob/lanceolate; margins entire; surfaces hairless; FLOWERS regular, perfect, ovary superior, and arranged in coiled clusters; pedicels absent or very short; sepals 2, persistent, free, thin, dry, hairless, and not keeled; petals 2-4 (usually 3) tiny, free, white, or pink; styles 0; stigmas 2; stamens 1-3; FRUITS capsules 2-valved, flat, narrowly oblong, splitting from top to bottom, and usually more than twice as long as the sepals; SEEDS 4-10, black, shiny, and rounded; HABITAT desert washes, sandy plains, mesas, clay, gravel, roadsides, flooded areas, and others; California to New Mexico and southward; blooming March to May.

REFERENCES: Desert potherb or common pussypaws (Cistanthe monandra = Calyptridium monandrum): seeds Ebeling (p. 826).

Springbeauties

and related species such as Miner’s Lettuce

FAMILY: Montia family (Montiaceae) – Claytonia genus.

SPECIES: #1 western springbeauty (Claytonia lanceolata Pall. ex Pursh). #2 alpine springbeauty (Claytonia megarhiza (A. Gray) Parry ex S. Watson). #3 Indian lettuce or streambank springbeauty (Claytonia parviflora Douglas ex Hook. ssp. parviflora = Montia parviflora (Douglas ex Hook.) Howell). #4 miner’s lettuce (Claytonia perfoliata Donn ex Willd. ssp. perfoliata = Montia perfoliata (Donn ex Willd.) Howell). #5 Rocky Mountain, western, or rosy springbeauty (Claytonia rosea Rydb.). #6 redstem springbeauty or red lettuce (Claytonia rubra (Howell) Tidestr.). #7 Great Basin springbeauty (Claytonia umbellata S. Watson).

TO UTILIZE AS FOOD: All species listed above have edible leaves. A few species also have edible tubers (numbers 1, 5, and 7) or caudices (number 2). Many species of the Claytonia genus were important resources to Native Americans.

Western springbeauty (C. lanceolata) leaves are delicious, free of harsh accents, and absolutely fantastic for salads. However, with only about two leaves per plant, gathering enough for a salad would take all day—maybe two days! Picking the leaves tends to break the delicate stems. Western springbeauty produces highly valuable tubers. Although rather small, about 5-15 mm in diameter, the tubers are delicious, tasting nearly identical to potatoes with an earthy accent. Few wild foods taste equally good. Peeling the tubers is unnecessary and would only waste time. Any method of cooking produces good results. Culinary possibilities are limited only by the imagination. After compensating for size, anything that works with potatoes works with springbeauty tubers. Boiling only requires about 10-15 minutes. Baking, followed by dehydrating and grinding, yields nearly pure flour that can be consumed immediately or stored for future use. Gathering the tubers is easy, except for one minor tangle. The tubers are seldom positioned directly below the above-ground parts. Instead, they grow to the sides, connected merely by delicate lifelines. This may not seem like much of a problem, at least until your gathering efforts only result in broken lifelines with no tubers attached. Turning the soil with a sufficiently large shovel solves this problem. Always be careful when sifting through the soil because poisonous plants lying dormant until warmer weather can produce similar structures. Anything appearing different should be regarded as suspect. Knowing how to tell the difference between bulbs, corms, and tubers is a good skill. Only bulbs are layered. Corms and tubers are solid. In corms, stems always emerge at the tops and roots emerge from the bottoms. In tubers, these parts can emerge from anywhere and the surfaces often have several “eyes” like those on potatoes. Western springbeauty always produces tubers, never bulbs or corms. The only way to be absolutely safe is to gather fully intact plants. Western springbeauty blooms early, long before most plants dare to brave the elements. It’s among the first plants to bloom after the snow melts in spring. It’s in season anytime it can be found, but flowers are usually required to find it. Western springbeauty grows nearly throughout the western half of the United States in sagebrush, juniper, oak, pine, aspen, spruce, and other communities.

Alpine springbeauty (C. megarhiza) is part of a small group within the Claytonia genus that produces edible caudices (thick, persistent, often fleshy, stem bases). It’s common in the Rocky Mountains, but it barely enters the Southwest in northern New Mexico. Rocky Mountain foragers can find this wild food in bloom from May to August on rocky slopes from 2,500 to 4,000 meters (about 8,000 to 13,000 feet) elevation. The species name megarhiza means “big root,” in reference to its purplish-red taproot that penetrates deep into rocky crevices. The caudex is a crown atop the taproot marked by horizontal leaf scars. Alpine springbeauty is in season anytime it can be found, but its preference for rocky habitats in alpine settings makes it difficult to acquire.

Indian lettuce (C. parviflora) is no different than miner’s lettuce from an edibility perspective. It also blooms at the same time in the same habitat. The two species often grow side by side in the filtered shade of deciduous trees, or along streams in rocky canyons, or sometimes on the sides of gently sloping hills. Indian lettuce’s narrower basal leaf blades could arguably make it slightly less desirable than miner’s lettuce, but both species are excellent wild foods. They’re in season primarily from February to May and grow throughout the western third of the United States.

Miner’s lettuce (C. perfoliata) is a remarkable little plant that every western forager should be familiar with. It offers some of the best salad material on Earth and grows in colonies that are easy to recognize. Fresh leaves are mild, nutritious, similar to romaine lettuce, and safe to eat in quantity. Plus, they contain enough water to quench thirst, especially when covered with dew in the morning hours. Thinning a colony is harmless. In fact, it encourages new growth. Miner’s lettuce, Indian lettuce, and red lettuce are easy to recognize and no other southwestern plants look similar. Miner’s lettuce has wide basal leaf blades. Indian lettuce has narrow basal leaf blades. Red lettuce has a low-lying form and a reddish color. All 3 species turn dull shades of red, yellow, orange, and brown before withering. They’re also prolific seed producers, and the seeds are highly fertile. Miner’s lettuce is common throughout the western third of the United States and blooms from January to May in a diversity of habitats.

Rosy springbeauty (C. rosea) is found in oak and pine communities in Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, Colorado, and Wyoming. It arises from globe-shaped tubers that can be 10 to 90 mm in diameter. Its pink, rose, or magenta flowers bloom primarily from March to May. Although it wasn’t sampled for this reference, its tubers and leaves probably taste similar to those of western springbeauty described above. Closely related species are often very similar.

Red lettuce (C. rubra) grows in dry shrublands or evergreen woodlands throughout the western third of the United States. It’s in season primarily from April to July. Red lettuce differs from miner’s lettuce by having basal leaves that lie flat on the ground and that tend to be red even in youth. Red lettuce was not sampled, but it probably tastes similar to miner’s lettuce described above.

Great Basin springbeauty (C. umbellata) is found on open rocky slopes in evergreen communities, primarily in Nevada and Oregon. It arises from globe-shaped tubers about 10 to 50 mm in diameter and blooms from May to August. Since it’s of conservation concern, gathering other species is encouraged. Great Basin springbeauty differs from most other tuber-bearing species of the Claytonia genus by often: lacking bracts below the lowest flowers in the clusters, having stalks on the cauline leaves, and producing rhizomes.

IDENTIFICATION: About 25 species of the Claytonia genus are found in the United States, of which only 7 occur in the Southwest. Many species have additional subspecies. Species in the Claytonia genus have only 2 cauline leaves (meaning leaves that occur along the stems), and these can be free or fused. Species in the Montia genus differ by having more than 2 cauline leaves. In both genera, the cauline leaves are opposite, and additional basal leaves may or may not be present. Root systems are also important for identification. Most species of the Claytonia genus produce fibrous roots or rhizomes. Relatively few produce tubers or caudices. In the southwest, only springbeauties (C. lanceolata, C. rosea, and C. umbellata) produce well-developed tubers. Lettuces (C. perfoliata, C. parviflora, and C. rubra) produce fibrous roots, sometimes with additional minute tuberous bodies. These last 3 species have fused cauline leaves that give the plants a distinctive look.

Description of western springbeauty (Claytonia lanceolata): FORM small, perennial plant about 1-10 cm tall emerging from a globe-shaped tuber 5-20 mm in diameter; STEMS solitary or a few arising from each tuber; LEAVES simple; basal and/or opposite; basal leaves 0-6; cauline leaves 2, free, sessile, and with narrowly to widely lanceolate blades; FLOWERS regular, perfect, ovary superior, showy, and arranged in racemes subtended by 1 bract; sepals 2, often uneven, and persistent; petals 5, free, white, pink, yellow, or purple, often with darker stripes; styles 1; stigmas 3; stamens 5; FRUITS capsules 3-valved, splitting lengthwise from top to bottom; SEEDS 3-6, black, round, smooth, and shiny; HABITAT sagebrush, juniper, oak, pine, aspen, spruce and other communities; nearly throughout the western half of the United States; blooming March to July.

Description of alpine springbeauty (Claytonia lanceolata): FORM small, perennial plant about 3-20 cm tall emerging from a purplish-red taproot surmounted by a fleshy-woody caudex; STEMS usually several per caudex; LEAVES simple; basal and opposite; the basal leaves numerous, sessile, and broadly oblanceolate; the cauline leaves sessile and narrowly oblanceolate; FLOWERS regular, perfect, ovary superior, showy, and arranged in racemes with many bracts; each bract subtending a pedicel; sepals 2, often uneven, and persistent; petals 5, free, white, pink, or purple, and often with darker stripes; styles 1; stigmas 3; stamens 5; FRUITS capsules 3-valved, splitting lengthwise from top to bottom; SEEDS 3-6, black, round, smooth, and shiny; HABITAT rocky mountain slopes, talus, and scree; montane or alpine zones; northern New Mexico to Montana to northern Utah, Nevada, and Oregon; blooming from May to August.

Description of Indian lettuce (Claytonia parviflora): FORM annual plant about 5-30 cm tall emerging from fibrous roots that often bear minute tubers; STEMS clustered; LEAVES simple; basal and opposite; the basal leaves numerous, free, upright, long-stalked, and with narrow blades; cauline leaves 2, fused around the upper stems (perfoliate); all leaves with entire margins and hairless surfaces; FLOWERS regular, perfect, ovary superior, and arranged in racemes subtended by 1 bract; sepals 2; petals 5, free, white or pink; styles 1; stigmas 3; stamens 5; FRUITS capsules 3-valved, splitting lengthwise from top to bottom; SEEDS 3-6, black, round, and shiny; HABITAT deserts, foothills, and mountains; often in canyons, on gently sloping hills or among boulders; throughout the western third of the United States; blooming February to May.

Description of miner’s lettuce (Claytonia perfoliata): FORM annual plant about 5-35 cm tall emerging from fibrous roots that often bear minute tubers; STEMS clustered; LEAVES simple; basal and opposite; the basal leaves numerous, free, upright, long-stalked, and with broad blades; cauline leaves 2, fused around the upper stems (perfoliate); all leaves with entire margins and hairless surfaces; FLOWERS regular, perfect, ovary superior, and arranged in racemes subtended by 1 bract; sepals 2; petals 5, free, white or pink; styles 1; stigmas 3; stamens 5; FRUITS capsules 3-valved, splitting lengthwise from top to bottom; SEEDS 3-6, black, round, and shiny; HABITAT deserts, foothills,  and mountains; often in canyons, on gently sloping hills, or among boulders in fields; throughout most of the West; blooming from January to May.

Rosy springbeauty (Claytonia rosea): FORM small, perennial plant about 2-15 cm tall emerging from a globe-shaped tuber 10-90 mm in diameter; STEMS solitary or a few arising from each tuber; LEAVES simple; basal and/or opposite; basal leaves 0-6; cauline leaves 2, free, stalked, and with linear blades; FLOWERS regular, perfect, ovary superior, showy, and arranged in racemes subtended by 2 or more bracts; sepals 2, often uneven, and persistent; petals 5, free, pinkish-purple, and often with darker stripes; styles 1; stigmas 3; stamens 5; FRUITS capsules 3-valved, splitting lengthwise from top to bottom; SEEDS 3-6, black, round, smooth, and shiny; HABITAT oak and pine communities in Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, Colorado, and Wyoming; blooming March to May.

Description of red lettuce (Claytonia rubra): FORM annual plant about 1-10 cm tall emerging from fibrous roots that often bear minute tubers; STEMS clustered; LEAVES simple; basal and opposite; often red even in youth; basal leaves numerous, free, prostrate, long-stalked, and with broad blades; cauline leaves 2, fused around the upper stems (perfoliate); all leaves with entire margins and hairless surfaces; FLOWERS regular, perfect, ovary superior, and arranged in racemes subtended by 1 bract; sepals 2; petals 5, free, white or pink; styles 1; stigmas 3; stamens 5; FRUITS capsules 3-valved, splitting lengthwise from top to bottom; SEEDS 3-6, black, round, and shiny; HABITAT dry shrublands or evergreen woodlands throughout the western third of the United States; blooming April to July.

Great Basin springbeauty (Claytonia umbellata): FORM small, perennial plant about 2-25 cm tall emerging from a globe-shaped tuber 10-50 mm in diameter; mature plants rhizomatous; STEMS solitary or a few arising from each tuber; LEAVES simple; basal and/or opposite; basal leaves 0-6; cauline leaves 2, free, stalked, and with elliptic to ovate blades; FLOWERS regular, perfect, ovary superior, showy, and arranged in racemes; bracts absent; sepals 2, often uneven, and persistent; petals 5, free, pinkish-purple, and often with darker stripes; styles 1; stigmas 3; stamens 5; FRUITS capsules 3-valved, splitting lengthwise from top to bottom; SEEDS 3-6, black, round, smooth, and shiny; HABITAT open rocky slopes in evergreen communities, primarily in Nevada and Oregon; blooming May to August.

REFERENCES: #1 western springbeauty (Claytonia lanceolata): all parts Tilford (p. 138); tubers Blankenship (p. 10) and Couplan (p. 110); leaves Couplan (p. 110). #2 alpine springbeauty (Claytonia megarhiza): taproots and leaves Couplan (p. 110) and Elias (p. 92). #3 Indian lettuce (Claytonia parviflora ssp. parviflora = Montia parviflora): leaves Couplan (p. 110). #4 miner’s lettuce (Claytonia perfoliata ssp. perfoliata = Montia perfoliata): leaves Couplan (p. 110). #5 Rocky Mountain springbeauty (Claytonia rosea): leaves Ebeling (p. 826). #6 redstem springbeauty (Claytonia rubra): leaves Horn (p. 156). #7 Great Basin springbeauty (Claytonia umbellata): tubers Blankenship (p. 10), Couplan (p. 110), and Fowler (p. 82); leaves Schofield (p. 206).

Bitterroots

FAMILY: Montia family (Montiaceae) – Lewisia genus.

SPECIES: #1 southwestern or shortsepal bitterroot (Lewisia brachycalyx Engelm. ex A. Gray). #2 alpine, pigmy, or dwarf bitterroot (Lewisia pygmaea (A. Gray) B. L. Rob.). #3 Montana or mountain bitterroot (Lewisia rediviva Pursh).

TO UTILIZE AS FOOD: All species listed above have edible roots, and #1 and #3 also have edible leaves. It’s likely that roots of all species in the Lewisia genus are edible, but only those of mountain bitterroot (L. rediviva) were used to any extent (Kirk p. 48). Only southwestern bitterroot was located during the fieldwork conducted for this reference.

Southwestern bitterroot (L. brachycalyx) is an extraordinary little plant. It comes up early, along with springbeauty and springparsley. Gathering the roots couldn’t be much easier, unless they just jumped into a basket! Thickened portions are located immediately below ground level rather than deep underground. Few other roots yield more calories per energy expended while gathering. Southwestern bitterroots are off-white with thin, flaky, dark-brown skins. Contrary to the name, these roots are not bitter, except for the skins. Any bitterness is confined to the skins, so peeling them is recommended. Washing and peeling can practically be done in the same step, as the skins tend to flake off. Inner portions are pure starch and account for most of the volume. Bitterroots are a treasure, easily ranking among the best wild foods. Brief boiling, about 10 minutes, yields starchy perfection. The flavor is similar to potatoes with an earthy accent. Sautéing these roots with butter and herbs forms the basis of a hearty meal. Steaming and baking are also good options. Any method of cooking yields good results. The leaves are far less valuable than the roots. Southwestern bitterroot leaves are thick, tender, fleshy, easily chewable, acrid, soapy, and almost mild enough for salads. When eaten fresh, their flavor ranges from fair to unappealing. It’s allied with purslane, though not as good. Mixing the leaves with milder salad ingredients may be necessary. Bitterroot leaves make decent potherbs. Boiling improves the flavor, yields pale green broth, and turns the leaves to mush. Midribs may persist as chewy strings. Southwestern bitterroot is found primarily in mountain habitats of Arizona. It can be gathered year-round, but it’s easier to find when it’s in bloom from mid spring to early summer. Overall, southwestern bitterroot is an excellent resource.

Nevada bitterroot (L. nevadensis) can occasionally be found in the mountains of all the southwestern states, with the exception of Texas. It’s also scattered in the northwestern states. Although no references were located to confirm its edibility, roots of all species in the Lewisia genus may be edible (Kirk p. 48 and Vizgirdas p. 153). Nevada bitterroot is a white-flowered species (or rarely pinkish) that blooms primarily from May to July in moist meadows. Considering its scarcity, pursuing other species may be more advantageous. 

Dwarf bitterroot (L. pygmaea) grows nearly throughout the western United States and Canada from sagebrush steppe to alpine tundra, but it’s not a common species. It can be gathered year-round, but it’s easier to find when it’s in bloom from late spring to late summer. Although Native Americans of the northwestern United States and Canada gathered the roots of this species, the roots of mountain bitterroot (L. rediviva) were gathered to a much greater extent. Dwarf bitterroot was traditionally gathered in spring when the flower buds first appeared.

Mountain bitterroot (L. rediviva) is the state flower of Montana. It’s a small plant that grows nearly throughout the western United States and into Canada. Like most Lewisia species, it can be gathered year-round, but it’s easier to find when it’s in bloom from early spring to early summer. In the Northwest, Native Americans traditionally gathered the roots in April and May, before the flowers appeared. At that time, the plants are merely rosettes of fleshy, dark-green leaves. Mountain bitterroot has an unusual life cycle. It starts in autumn with the emergence of a few leaves that will persist through winter. More leaves develop in spring when suitable growing conditions return. All the leaves wither shortly before or after the flowers bloom. Capsules develop, seeds disperse, and sometime in summer the plants become dormant as the life cycle completes another year. Mountain bitterroot was important enough to be an article of trade among Native Americans and ceremonies were held in honor of this incredible plant. It’s more likely to be found in the northern half of the Southwest than the southern half, and even more likely to be found north of that region. Other southwestern species are much more common.

NOTES: Bitterroots are reported to have a wide range in flavor. All my experiences with them indicated they taste delicious, but I only documented one of many species. Perhaps that species, southwestern bitterroot (L. brachycalyx), is simply better than the others, or perhaps the value of bitterroots is diminished in literature as a way to discourage people from over-harvesting these remarkable plants. In either case, based on the plants that I tried so far, I’ve never had a bitter bitterroot, so the name seems off target.

IDENTIFICATION: The Lewisia genus is represented by about 20 species in the United States, of which only 4 species are likely to be found in the Southwest. Most members of the purslane family have fruits that split lengthwise from top to bottom. In Lewisia, fruits split around the equators and flowers terminate short stems that look like flower stalks. The stems are bare except for a pair of leaf-like bracts. Numerous stems arise directly from thick roots. Leaves of the species described below often turn vibrant shades of red, orange, yellow, purple, or brown soon after the flowers bloom.

Description of southwestern bitterroot (Lewisia brachycalyx): FORM small, perennial plant emerging from a thick, fleshy root; LEAVES simple; basal; blades linear-oblanceolate, thick, and flat in cross section; FLOWERS regular, perfect, ovary superior, sessile, and arranged in clusters; bracts 2 and sepals 2, the pairs decussate and appearing as 4 sepals; margins of the sepals entire; petals 5-9, each about 11-24 mm long, and white or pink with darker veins; FRUITS capsules spherical to ovoid, translucent, and splitting open around the equators; HABITAT mountain meadows and forests; primarily in Arizona; blooming in late spring or early summer.

Description of Nevada bitterroot (Lewisia nevadensis): FORM small, perennial plant emerging from a thick, fleshy root; LEAVES simple; basal; blades linear-oblanceolate, thick, and flat in cross section; margins entire; FLOWERS regular, perfect, ovary superior, stalked, and arranged in clusters; bracts distant from and dissimilar to the sepals; sepals 2, margins entire; petals 5-10, each about 9-17 mm long, white (or rarely pinkish), and often with darker stripes; stamens 6-15; FRUITS capsules spherical to ovoid, translucent, and splitting open around the equators; HABITAT moist mountain meadows; from New Mexico to California and northward to Canada; blooming late spring to late summer.

Description of dwarf bitterroot (Lewisia pygmaea): FORM small, perennial plant emerging from a thick, fleshy root; LEAVES simple; basal; blades linear-oblanceolate, thick, and flat in cross section; margins entire; FLOWERS regular, perfect, ovary superior, stalked, and arranged in clusters; bracts distant from and dissimilar to the sepals; sepals 2, margins glandular-toothed; petals 5-8, each about 6-14 mm long, white to pinkish-purple, and often with darker stripes; stamens 5-8; FRUITS capsules spherical to ovoid, translucent, and splitting open around the equators; HABITAT nearly throughout the western United States from sagebrush steppe to alpine tundra; blooming late spring to late summer.

Description of mountain bitterroot (Lewisia rediviva): FORM small, perennial plant emerging from a thick, fleshy root; STEMS jointed at junctions with pedicel bases; LEAVES simple; basal; blades linear-oblanceolate, thick, and nearly round in cross section; margins entire; FLOWERS regular, perfect, ovary superior, stalked, and arranged in clusters; bracts 3-7; sepals 4-9; petals 10-18, each about 15-30 mm long, free, white, pink, or purple; styles 5-8-branched; stamens 20-45; FRUITS capsules spherical to ovoid, translucent, and splitting open around the equators; HABITAT mountains of the northern Southwest and northward; blooming in spring or summer.

REFERENCES: #1 southwestern bitterroot (Lewisia brachycalyx): roots Yanovski (p. 24); leaves Couplan (pp. 110-111). #2 dwarf bitterroot (Lewisia pygmaea): roots Kuhnlein (pp. 228-230), Moerman (p. 138), and Yanovski (p. 24). #3 mountain bitterroot (Lewisia rediviva): roots Kuhnlein (pp. 228-230), Moerman (p. 139), and Yanovski (p. 24); leaves Moerman (p. 139).

Orange Flameflower

FAMILY: Montia family (Montiaceae) – Phemeranthus genus.

SPECIES: Orange flameflower (Phemeranthus aurantiacus (Engelm.) Kiger = Talinum aurantiacum Engelm.).

TO UTILIZE AS FOOD: Roots of orange flameflower are edible, but not all of them are created equal. Extreme differences occur in the flavor, ranging from awful to excellent. Sampling a small piece to check the flavor before gathering a supply is wise. Colonies with harsh-tasting roots should be avoided. Cooking won’t adequately improve the acrid, bitter, throat-searing flavor of harsh roots. Peeling the skins is recommended because distasteful flavors are concentrated in the skins. Choice roots are mild, starchy, potato-like, and free of unappealing overtones. Leaves, which are not reported to be edible, also exhibit extreme differences in quality. Some taste mild, like purslane, while others taste terribly acrid. Leaf texture is crisp and mucilage is low. Orange flameflower is a resource of highly variable potential that forms colonies in suitable locations from southern Texas to Arizona.

NOTES: The orange flameflower samples were based on colonies from the Mogollon and Patagonia Mountains. Most of them were not very promising, but a few would certainly justify the inclusion of orange flameflower among plants worth gathering. A number of rare species of the Phemeranthus genus occur in the Southwest, but orange flameflower is common, especially in the southern half of Arizona and New Mexico.

IDENTIFICATION: Depending on which authority is consulted, about 15-20 species of the Phemeranthus genus and 3-6 of the closely related Talinum genus are currently found in the United States. Many species of both genera are rare and native to the southwestern states. The Phemeranthus genus was formerly included as a group within the Talinum genus. Differences occur in the leaves and fruits. The orange flowers of orange flameflower (P. aurantiacus) are distinctive. Other species of the Phemeranthus genus have white, pink, purple, or yellow flowers.

Description of orange flameflower (Phemeranthus aurantiacus): FORM upright, succulent, perennial plant to about 40 cm tall emerging from a thick, woody root; LEAVES simple; alternate; blades lanceolate, 3-15 mm wide, and flat in cross section; margins entire; surfaces hairless; FLOWERS regular, perfect, ovary superior, and arranged individually or 2-3 in the leaf axils; sepals 2, each about 5-10 mm long and deciduous; petals 5, free, each about 8-15 mm long, typically orange or copper, sometimes pink or yellow; stigmas 3; stamens 20-30; FRUITS capsules 4-7 mm long, splitting 3-ways from top to bottom; SEEDS numerous and ridged; HABITAT desert uplands; southern Arizona to western Texas and southward into Mexico; blooming June to September.

REFERENCES: Orange flameflower (Phemeranthus aurantiacus = Talinum aurantiacum): roots Couplan (p. 112) and Yanovski (p. 25).