The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1894-02-12
FLORAL RMBLEMs
The bitter Root Proposed for Montana
by Mr.. stuart.


by Mr. stuart
To Tho independent.
Mrs. Matt W. Anderson, Of Bozeman,
Issues IN the January number Of tho
Rockies magazine, a oail for tho orRanizA-
tion Of ''etnte floral emblem society" as
an auxiliary Of the National Floral En-
hlem society,"" the object being their pref
erences as 20 Whist flowers shall be adopted
for nat onal and stats emblsms.
For the national floral emblem / favor
the Wild ed rose. IL grows IN every stats
Ia the uuious IL readily ndapta itself 90 its
envifonment; IN rich bottom lands it grows
10 a height Of from three 20 eight feet, "a
the latter case being supported bT willows
or other bushes aud bacoming a semi-vine
like climber while in arid regions u is
abundant but IN "a dWarfed condition.
lave often seen on Our dry bench lends
small oiumps and also single bushes. not
over six inches high, covered with the rich
est deepest colered roses. In fact the dwarf
bushes usually have ths hnest colo cd
flowers. have also seen Ia Montana many
roses on bushes OF three and four inches
high.
The foliage of the rose is IN itself vssy
beautiful. IS eoially here in Montana,
where IN autumn tho leaves become scarlet,
rivallina in their delioato tfac-ry OF veins
and richness OF oolofs the maple Of oasiern
forests.
The rose is no. now m emblem "A Eng
lsud, and while 10 WAS 20 there during the
Wurs OF the roses. that should not debar az,
for we're not those sturdy warriors Of old
our ancsstoraY Certain u "a that no flower
IN mOfe widely distributed, Is more beauti-
ful or has a finer perfume.
la Cent al and Eaata n Montana IL IL not
unusual 30 fnd patches Of Wild I0Eo bushes
covering from q quait-r 20 an acre Of
ground aud when in bloom tasir pink
color and also their perfume. is noticeable
a. the distance OF a quarter Of mite.
For our state flower / strongly favor ths
bittof root, or Wild poTtulzcon. Us foliage
is evergreen, not dying in winter, but there
Is rot much OF 70. 10 consisting OF rnsstte
Of deep olive green leaves ON two 90 four
inehos In diameter, which lie on the ground.
and from ths center Of which spring ia Nav.
June and July several stems 20 a height OF
from two TO three inches bearing lovely
flowers OF various shadea OF mink, ana
from one and ons-half to two inches In
diameter, the plant Is perennial. the roots
which are about the size OF the little finger
nc the top. usually fork into several
branches and are from four to seven inches
long. The bark is reddish brown and
when 10 ia removed the roots nro white.
They formerly formed a large part OF the
food OF the flethsad, Pen dOfeilles, Coeur
d'Alene. kOOOenai anu salmon River snake
Indians, who drisd the roots, when they be-
came brittle like mnccaroni and we're vofy
nuNIlcioua Mhon bollou into hOft OF musn.
10 is Vory bitter. hence ita name, bat never
thelsss many white men of tho early settlers
were fond OF IL and found IL az nutritious
as corn meal muah. These dried bitter
roots" were put M in grass saekB and We
traded by the tribes above named 20 the
Indians OF the plains of eastern Montana
for buffalo robes. tongues, SKINS, etc.
The bitter oot Is abundant IN most Of the
mountainous distriots Of the state and gave
It's name 20 one Of our largest and by all
odds the best valley in the state and TO the
magnificent river flowing Though H. In
Bitter Root valley, In Ravslli county. may
be seen hundreds OF acres literally covered
with their lovely pink flowers. The bitter
/ root thfives when transplanted. IL does
best In sandy, gravslly soil and f0rIns
lovely borders or even entire beds In the
| Hover garden or lawn. It also blooms we'll
in vases or pots, bet it has no reffums.
The purple clomatis only grows in Mon
tana in damp. dark canyons in the moun-
tains. and while beautiful, IL is rare.
The white clematis is much more lenti-
ful and Ia an agreeable climbing plant, or.
| rather, vine. Is Is hardy and grows in the
sun. or rather where exposed 10 the suns
rays. Its smsll, ysllowish white flowers do
not amount to much. Its chief beauty lies
In its abundance of masses OF woolly, white,
fuzzy seed vessels.
| Ihe mentzeliaa arc beautiful but are
scarce, and only bloom for a short time.
The purple anemons OF snow flower. is
beautiful, bat II short lived, and in Mon
tRnR 10 only grows on the mountains whore
| 10 IS the FIRST TO appear as soon as the snow
l. gone, frequently blooming by the edge
of huge snow banks in April.
! The wild flax 10 voty beautiful, but not
plentiful. nor distinctivsly Montana
/ flower.
The wild primrose IS large and beauti-
ful iower. but IL not abundant enough for
n state emblem. lt bears some Tessm blanc
TO The bitter root IN that 10 consists OF ro-
sette of evergreen leaves that lie upon the
| ground, but its leRves are larger aud longer
| covering a sTace OF from four 90 eight
inches in diamater and its flower stems are
about twice as long rs ttose of the bitter
| root. lls hower is from two 20 four inches
| in digmster, creamy white az fret, but
changing 90 a pale and finally TO desp
pink color; the stamens are a beautiful
yellow and give forth delicious perfume.
Its habitat Is similar to that OF the bitter
root. bnt IL is usually solitary, few bsinQ
found together, aud so far as nv observE-
tions extend, IL ~ moat abundant in the
| Yellowstone valley, but / think few are
found IA every county IN the state.
| There are many Of our flowers that are
worthy OF q description. and / will speak oi
them shortly. GRANVILLE STUART.