Balsamorhiza sagittata
Balsamorhiza sagittata is a North American species of flowering plant in the sunflower tribe of the aster family known by the common name Arrowleaf Balsamroot. It is widespread across western Canada and much of the western United States. A specimen was collected by explorer and botanist Meriwether Lewis near Lewis and Clark Pass in 1806. Description. This is a taprooted perennial herb growing a hairy, glandular stem tall. The branching, barky root may extend over two meters deep into the soil. The basal leaves are generally triangular in shape and are large, approaching in maximum length. Leaves farther  up the stem are linear to narrowly oval in shape and smaller. The leaves have untoothed edges and are coated in fine to rough hairs, especially on the undersides. The inflorescence bears one or more flower head, sometimes more than one on the same stem. Each head has a center of long yellowish tubular disc florets and a fringe of bright yellow ray florets, each up to 4 cm long. The fruit is a hairless achene about 8 millimeters long. Grazing animals find the plant palatable, especially the flowers and developing seed heads. Distribution. The plant's native range extends  from British Columbia and Alberta in the north, southward as far as northern Arizona and the Mojave Desert of California, and as far east as the Black Hills of South Dakota. It grows in many types of habitat from mountain forests to grassland to desert scrub. It is drought tolerant. Ecology. The species hybridizes with "Balsamorhiza hookeri". Elk and deer browse the leaves. Uses. Coming into season in late spring, all the plant can be eaten—particularly the roots (boiled) and the seeds. It can be bitter and pine-like in taste. The leaves are best collected when young and  can carry a citrus flavor. Many Native American groups, including the Nez Perce, Kootenai, Cheyenne, and Salish, utilized the plant as a food and medicine. The seeds were particularly valuable as food or used for oil. In 1806, William Clark collected a specimen near the White Salmon River, and both he and Frederick Pursh noted that the stem was eaten raw by the American natives. Culture. Under the name Okanagan Sunflower, it is the official flower emblem of the city of Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada.