Lewisia rediviva Pursh
bitterroot (bitter root)
Montiaceae (Purslane family)
(Previously in Portulacaceae)

Introduction to Vascular Plants

Photograph

© Ian Gardiner     (Photo ID #24193)

Map

E-Flora BC Static Map

Distribution of Lewisia rediviva
Click here to view the full interactive map and legend

SUBTAXA PRESENT IN BC

Lewisia rediviva var. rediviva

Species Information

General:
Perennial herb from a thick branched taproot and a short, simple or branched stem-base; stems spreading to erect, few, simple, 1-3 cm tall.
Leaves:
Basal leaves numerous, 1.5-5 cm long, linear to club-shaped, round in cross section, with a wide, transparent base, beginning to wither and dry by flowering time; stem leaves lacking.
Flowers:
Inflorescence of solitary flowers on stalks 0.5-1.5 cm long; floral bracts 5-6, whorled, linear, 0.5-1 cm long, chaffy; petals 12-18, white to deep pink, narrowly oblong, 1.8-3.5 cm long; sepals (4) 5-9, unequal, 10-25 mm long, stamens 30-50.
Fruits:
Capsules; seeds 6-20, rounded, dark brown, shiny, 2 mm long.

Source:  The Illustrated Flora of British Columbia

Illustration

If more than one illustration is available for a species (e.g., separate illustrations were provided for two subspecies) then links to the separate images will be provided below. Note that individual subspecies or varietal illustrations are not always available.

Ecology

Ecological Framework for Lewisia rediviva

The table below shows the species-specific information calculated from
original data (BEC database) provided by the BC Ministry of Forests and Range.
(Updated August, 2013)

Site Information
 Value / Class

Avg

Min

Max
Elevation (metres)
 671 332 1822
Slope Gradient (%)
 17 0 80

Aspect (degrees)
[0 - N; 90 - E; 180 - S; 270 - W]

 193 5 330
Soil Moisture Regime (SMR)
[0 - very xeric; 4 - mesic;
8 - hydric] 		2 0 7
Modal Nutrient Regime
Class
 C
# of field plots
 species was recorded in:
 101
Modal BEC Zone Class
 BG

All BEC Zones (# of stations/zone) species was recorded in

 BG(45), ESSF(1), IDF(11), MS(2), PP(40)

Habitat and Range

Dry grasslands, shrublands and open forests in the steppe and lower montane zones; locally frequent in SC BC, rare in SE BC; S to MT, CO, AZ and CA.

Source:  The Illustrated Flora of British Columbia

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