Lewisia Explained

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 rocky ground and cliffs in western North America. Native Americans ate the roots, which have also been used to treat sore throats.

Characteristics

Lewisias are succulent 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 0.5m (01.6feet) in height and width.[1]

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.[2]

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.[3] The plant was given its scientific name, Lewisia rediviva, by Frederick Traugott Pursh.[4]

List of species

There are nineteen species and several varieties of Lewisia, including:[5]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Lewisia cotyledon AGM. Royal Horticultural Society. 2011. 31 July 2012.
  2. Web site: - Lewisias. Alpine Garden Society - Bedfordshire group. 31 July 2012.
  3. News: In focus: Lewisia. The Telegraph. Charles Lyte. 31 July 2012.
  4. Web site: Bitterroot Plant Trivia. 2007. Bitterroot Heaven. 31 July 2012. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20120415155730/http://bitterrootheaven.com/trivia.html. 15 April 2012.
  5. Unless otherwise sourced all items in this list use: Web site: Classification for Kingdom Plantae Down to Genus Lewisia Pursh. United States Department of Agriculture. 4 August 2012.
  6. Web site: Sacajawea's bitterroot (Lewisia sacajaweana) . Edna Ray-Vizgirda . . 13 October 2012 . 4 August 2012 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20121014093800/http://www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/plant-of-the-week/lewisia_sacajaweana.shtml . 14 October 2012 .
  7. https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:139344-2 Lewisia triphylla (S.Watson) B.L.Rob.
  8. Web site: Bitterroot - Lewisia rediviva Pursh. Plant-life. 31 July 2012.
  9. Web site: Lewisia ×whiteae Purdy [cotyledon × leeana]|publisher=United States Department of Agriculture|access-date=5 August 2012}}

    Formerly placed here

    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 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.[8]

    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.

    References

    Bibliography

    • Clayton. Phil. Drury. Anita. 2012. Succeed with Lewisia. The Garden. 137. 6. 36–37 .
    • Book: Vizgirdas. Ray. Rey-Vizgirdas. Edna. 2009. Wild Plants of the Sierra Nevada. University of Nevada Press. 384. 9780874177893.
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This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Lewisia".

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