Southwest Colorado Wildflowers, Oreobroma

In 1814 Frederick Pursh named a new genus "Lewisia" in honor of Meriwether Lewis who in 1806 collected the first specimens of this genus in Montana. The plant collected was named Lewisia rediviva, for it would "revive" and grow even after being stored for long periods of time.

William Weber, the plant authority for Colorado, places some members of the Lewisia genus in the Oreobroma genus. Lewisia flowers are twice the diameter of Oreobroma flowers (two centimeters versus one). Lewisia's flowers are pink on jointed pedicels; Oreobroma's are red, pink, or white and are not on jointed pedicles. Lewisia's flowers appear after the leaves wither; Oreobroma's appear with the leaves.

Thomas Howell named the Oreobroma genus in 1893. Oreobroma means "mountain food" and refers to the edible, but bitter, root -- from which the Bitterroot Mountains derive their name.

Lewisia rediviva is now the state flower of Montana. According to the state of Montana website:

Montana's Indians used it as an important part of their diet. Tribes timed their spring migrations with the blooming of the bitterroot on the gravel river bars and hillsides. Dug, cleaned, and dried, the root provided a lightweight, nutritious supplement to a wild-game diet. At major trading centers like The Dalles, the root was an item of barter and exchange. A sackful commanded a substantial price - usually a horse. One ounce of dried root provided sufficient nourishment for a meal, but the plant was seldom eaten raw, for its bitter taste and resultant swelling caused great discomfort. More traditionally, Indian women boiled the root, then mixed it with meat or berries. Pulverized and seasoned with deer fat and moss, the cooked root could be molded into patties and carried on hunting expeditions....

See the excellent Lewis and Clark web site for more information about Lewis and Lewisia rediviva.

More biographical information.

Synonym: Oreobroma nevadensis. Lewisia nevadensis. (Lewisia, Bitterroot)
Portulacaceae (Portulaca Family)

Montane. Meadows, open woods. Spring, summer.
Lower Stoner Mesa Trail, May 27, 2004.

These tiny flowers, just an inch or two across, are often found in very large numbers scattered in wet meadows and open Aspen woods. They are so tiny, though, that hikers usually pass them by without noticing them. Leaves are thick and succulent and flowers are bright white to pink.

Asa Gray gave the first name to this species, probably Talinum nevadensis, and the date was probably 1862. Thomas Howell renamed it Oreobroma nevadensis, probably in 1893 when he named Oreobroma pygmaea. Benjamin L. Robinson renamed it Lewisia nevadensis (probably in 1897).

Synonym: Oreobroma nevadensis. Lewisia nevadensis. (Lewisia, Bitterroot)
Portulacaceae (Portulaca Family)

Montane. Meadows, open woods. Spring, summer.
Near Narraguinnep Natural Area, May 18, 2007.

Sparse, but very evenly distributed winter and spring moisture in 2006-2007 produced a 2007 bumper crop of many wildflowers, including Oreobroma nevadensis. That cute little blue flower in the lower left of the flower cluster is Collinsia parviflora.

Synonym: Oreobroma nevadensis. Lewisia nevadensis. (Lewisia, Bitterroot)
Portulacaceae (Portulaca Family)

Montane. Meadows, open woods. Spring, summer.
Lower Stoner Mesa Trail, May 27, 2004.

Synonym: Oreobroma pygmaea. Lewisia pygmaea. (Lewesia or Bitterroot)
Portulacaceae (Portulaca Family)

Montane, subalpine, alpine. Woodlands, openings, meadows, tundra. Spring, summer.
Lizard Head Trail, July 2, 2004.

This species of Lewesia is found primarily in moist areas of the alpine and subalpine zones. It is as slender and lovely as O. nevadensis and just as difficult and surprising to find. Flowers can be white to pink.

Asa Gray named this species Talinum pygmaeum in 1862, Thomas Howell renamed it Oreobroma pygmaea in 1893, and Benjamin L. Robinson renamed it Lewisia pygmaea in 1897.