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Lewisia rediviva

bitter root, bitterroot lewisia, resurrection flower

Photo is of parent taxon

bitter root, bitterroot lewisia

Taproots

gradually ramified distally.

Stems

procumbent to erect, 1–3 cm.

Leaves

basal leaves withering at or soon after anthesis, sessile, blade linear to clavate, subterete or grooved adaxially, 0.5–5 cm, margins entire, apex obtuse to subacute;

cauline leaves absent.

Basal leaf

blades linear, subterete, not grooved adaxially.

Inflorescences

with flowers borne singly;

bracts 4–7(–8), whorled, subulate to linear-lanceolate, 4–10 mm, margins entire, apex acuminate.

Flowers

pedicellate, disarticulate in fruit;

sepals (4–)6–9, broadly elliptic to ovate, 10–25 mm, scarious after anthesis, margins entire to somewhat erose, apex obtuse to rounded;

petals 10–19, usually rose to pink, sometimes lavender, sometimes with paler or white centers, or wholly white, elliptic, oblong, or narrowly oblanceolate, 15–35 mm;

stamens 20–50;

stigmas 4–9;

pedicel (1–)3–15(–30) mm.

sepals 15–25 mm;

petals 18–35 mm;

stamens 30–50;

pedicel 10–15(–30) mm.

Capsules

5–6 mm.

Seeds

6–25, 2–2.5 mm, shiny, minutely papillate.

2n

= 26, 28.

Lewisia rediviva

Lewisia rediviva var. rediviva

Phenology Flowering early spring–early summer, depending on elevation.
Habitat Open places in gravelly to rocky substrates
Elevation 60-1900 m (200-6200 ft)
Distribution
from FNA
AZ; CA; CO; ID; MT; NV; OR; UT; WA; WY; AB; BC
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
from FNA
AZ; CA; CO; ID; MT; NV; OR; UT; WA; WY; AB; BC
[BONAP county map]
Discussion

Varieties 2 (2 in the flora).

Native Americans commonly ate the boiled roots of Lewisia rediviva.

(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)

Key
1. Basal leaf blades clavate to narrowly oblanceolate, grooved adaxially; sepals 10-12(-15) mm; petals 15mm; stamens 20-30
var. minor
1. Basal leaf blades linear, subterete, not grooved adaxially; sepals 15-25 mm; petals 18-35 mm; stamens 30-50
var. rediviva
Source FNA vol. 4, p. 484. FNA vol. 4, p. 484.
Parent taxa Portulacaceae > Lewisia Portulacaceae > Lewisia > Lewisia rediviva
Sibling taxa
L. brachycalyx, L. cantelovii, L. columbiana, L. congdonii, L. cotyledon, L. disepala, L. kelloggii, L. leeana, L. longipetala, L. maguirei, L. nevadensis, L. oppositifolia, L. pygmaea, L. stebbinsii, L. triphylla
L. rediviva var. minor
Subordinate taxa
L. rediviva var. minor, L. rediviva var. rediviva
Synonyms L. alba
Name authority Pursh: Fl. Amer. Sept. 2: 368. (1814) unknown
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