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History of Rock Gardens and History of a Rock Garden Plant

© Diana Pederson

The Montana State Flower: Bitterroot written by Jerry DeSanto, was published in 1993 and is distributed by Falcon Books. Books about a single plant genus are common. This is one of those rare books that discusses the complete history of a single plant species. People with many interests will find it fascinating. Those who enjoy ethnobotany which is the study of the uses of plants will find it rewarding. If you simply enjoy learning about food habits of Native Americans, you will find it fascinating. Botanists will be equally fascinated by the same book. A home gardener will find all the information needed to grow Lewisia rediva well.

Traditional Use, the first section, discusses the legends which explain how the various tribes of Indians came to know and learn to use the bitterroot plant as food. One of the legends is said to explain the range in which bitterroot grows. It's amazing to me that bitterroot, with its extremely bitter taste, came to be so important that special days were spent harvesting it each year. Some tribes used it only as medicine while others also used it as a food staple. From various reports, bitterroot was being collected up until about 1990 by the Blackfoot Indian Tribe.

The plant genus, Lewisia was named for the explorer, Captain Meriwether Lewis, who first reported this plant in 1805. Later botanists have verified that this is the plant described in his journals. Read section 2, History to learn how this plant came to be named for Lewis and a bit about the first few botanists to study it in detail.

Section three, Classification details the plants scientific classification. The plant was first named Lewisia rediva by Frederick Pursh in 1814. I am sure that plant taxonomists will enjoy reading how the plant landed in the Portulacaceae plant family.

Horticulturists and rock gardeners will find the fourth section, The Plant, valuable because it provides complete information on the plant's life cycle. A detailed discussion of the necessity for well-draining soil during the growing season, a discussion of the growth season leading to flowering is included. This is a plant that dies back to the roots during the summer season. Every detail you may want to know about the flower color, seed ripening, seed dispersal, and the genetics which explain the differences in flower color from one area to another are explained here.

Cultivation and Modern Use is discussed thoroughly in section 5. You'll find recommendations for growing this plant in your garden, its conservation, and a discussion of how it became connected with Montana as its' state flower is included in this final section.