Balsamorhiza

Balsamorhiza is a genus of plants in the sunflower family known commonly as balsamroots. These are perennials with fleshy taproots 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.


USES
Native Americans used the sticky sap of this plant as a topical antiseptic for minor wounds. 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 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.


Species
Balsamorhiza hookeri - Hooker's balsamroot

Balsamorhiza incana - hoary balsamroot

Balsamorhiza macrophylla - cutleaf balsamroot

Balsamorhiza rosea - rosy balsamroot

Balsamorhiza careyana - Carey's balsamroot

Balsamorhiza lanata - lanate balsamroot

Balsamorhiza macrolepis - California balsamroot

Balsamorhiza sagittata - arrowleaf balsamroot

Balsamorhiza sericea - silky balsamroot

Balsamorhiza serrata - serrate balsamroot

Balsamorhiza deltoidea - deltoid balsamroot

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