BALSAMROOT 



Balsamorhiza sagittata (Pursh) Nuttall 



Wherever it is found, balsamroot is a striking plant. The arrow- 

 shaped leaves, blue-green on the upper surface and white on the under 

 side, are borne on stalks five or six inches long, above which the 

 handsome yellow flowers are poised on still longer stems. When in 

 bloom these plants brighten whole mountain sides with gold. The 

 plant prefers moist situations on partially shaded, steep slopes, but in 

 the lower valleys it frequents the borders of swampy land, among 

 coarse grass and alder and willow bushes. The horses love to feed upon 

 it, and will never pass a fine clump in perfection of leaf and bloom 

 unless urged on. The large fleshy roots are eaten by the Indians, and in 

 Utah they are commonly called Mormon biscuit, because of their use 

 by the early immigrants in times of scarcity. 



Balsamroot is distributed from Colorado and California to British 

 Columbia and South Dakota. 



The specimen sketched was obtained near Radium Hot Springs, 

 British Columbia, at an altitude of 3,500 feet. 



PLATE 69 



