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Lewisia
Lewisia cotyledon Sunset Strain 7zz.jpg
Cultivated Lewisia cotyledon
Scientific classification e
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Caryophyllales
Family: Montiaceae
Genus: Lewisia
Pursh
Species

19, see text

Lewisia is a plant genus, named for the American explorer Meriwether Lewis (1774-1809) who encountered the species in 1806. The native habitat of Lewisia species is north facing cliffs in western North America. Local Native Americans ate the roots, which have also been used to treat sore throats.

Characteristics

Lewisias are perennial flowering plants native to western North American habitats including rocky outcrops from the high elevation alpine to lower elevation chaparral, oak woodlands, and coniferous forests. They produce rosette-shaped flowers in a range of different colours. Lewisia cotyledon grow up to 0.5 metres (1.6 ft) in height and width.

About half of the species of Lewisia are deciduous, including the original Lewisia rediviva. Lewisia longipetala is the only semi-deciduous species. Some species, such as Lewisia cotyledon, are evergreen.

Taxonomy

Meriwether Lewis, of Lewis and Clark fame, is credited with the first discovery by a European or American of Lewisia, which was known to the local Native Americans as bitterroot. Lewis discovered the specimen in 1806 at Lolo Creek, in the mountain range that became known as the Bitterroot Mountains. The plant was given its scientific name, Lewisia rediviva, by Frederick Traugott Pursh.

List of species

There are nineteen species and several varieties of Lewisia, including:

Lewisia c
Lewisia cotyledon
Lewisia rediviva 4
Lewisia rediviva
  • Lewisia rediviva Pursh (Bitterroot; the state flower of Montana)
    • Lewisia rediviva var. minor (Rydb.) Munz: USA (California, Nevada, Utah)
    • Lewisia rediviva var. rediviva: Canada (British Columbia), USA (Montana, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Wyoming, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, California, Arizona)
  • Lewisia sacajaweana B.L.Wilson: USA (Idaho)
  • Lewisia serrata Heckard & Stebbins : USA (California)
  • Lewisia stebbinsii Gankin & W.R.Hildreth: USA (California)
  • Lewisia triphylla (S.Watson) B.L.Rob.: Canada (British Columbia), USA (Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Wyoming, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, California, Arizona)
  • Lewisia ×whiteae Purdy: USA (Oregon) – hybrid of Lewisia leeana and Lewisia cotyledon

Distribution and habitat

Lewisias are naturally found in western parts of North America. In their native habitat of north-facing cliffs, lewisias are subject to extremes in weather conditions.

Uses

All species of Lewisia are edible. Lewisia rediviva has a large edible root and as a result became a food source for local Native Americans. The root is peeled before boiling or steaming; cooking the root reduces its bitterness.

L. rediviva has also been used for medicinal purposes; chewing the root was used to relieve a sore throat. It has also been used to promote milk flow during lactation.

For gardening, Lewisia species are usually planted in rockeries, because this mimics their natural habitat. Rockeries also provide the free drainage that lewisias need to prevent their roots rotting. They may also be planted in pots, though they need to be well drained and protected from sustained wet weather.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Lewisia para niños

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