RHH's photos with the keyword: arrowleaf balsamroot

In the Sunflower family, Arrowleaf Balsamroot is a common plant in the west and was an important plant for the native Americans.

These are some photos of a common but beautiful wildflower found all over the drier areas of the Pacific Northwest, the Arrowleaf Balsamroot. In the spring it covers the hillsides and brightens the forest understory. It was used both for food and medicine by the native Americans.

This clump of Arrowleaf Balsamroot was photographed in the woods near our home where it is found in abundance in the spring.

Also known as the Okanagan Sunflower, this plant with its flowers covers and brightens whole hillsides in the spring. It is found in the woods and along the roads near our home. The plant was important to the native people and a specimen was collected by Lewis and Clark.

Also known as the Okanagan Sunflower, this plant with its flowers covers and brightens whole hillsides in the spring. It is found in the woods and along the roads near our home. The plant was important to the native people and a specimen was collected by Lewis and Clark.

Also known as the Okanagan Sunflower, this plant with its flowers covers and brightens whole hillsides in the spring. It is found in the woods and along the roads near our home. The plant was important to the native people and a specimen was collected by Lewis and Clark.

In the spring the Arrowleaf Balsamroot covers the foothills and eastern side of the Cascades with a blanket of yellow color. Also known as the Okanagan Sunflower, the plant is large with large flowers and seems tolerant of both sun and shade. The roots, young shoots and seeds are all edible and the roots could also be used as a coffee substitute. The plant as also used medicinally by native tribes for burns and wounds.

Photographed along the North Cascades highway west of Winthrop, Washington, this plant and other Balsamroots were in bloom everywhere. These plants are called balsamroots for two reasons, first, the sap is antiseptic and was used for that purpose by the Indians, and second, the roots, though edible, have a pine-scented flavor. The plants were used for food by the Indians who made a flour from the roots when other food was scare.

Photographed between Wilbur and Grand Coulee in eastern Washington.