Balsamorhiza hookeri, Balsamorhiza sagittata.

Balsamorhiza hookeri Nutt. Compositae. Balsam-Root.

Northwestern America. The thick roots of this species are eaten raw by the Nez Perce Indians and have, when cooked, a sweet and rather agreeable taste.

Balsamorhiza sagittata Nutt. Oregon Sunflower.

Northwestern America. The roots are eaten by the Nez Perce Indians in Oregon, after being cooked on hot stones. They have a sweet and rather agreeable taste. Wilkes mentions the Oregon sunflower of which the seeds, pounded into a meal called mielito, are eaten by the Indians of Puget Sound.


Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World, 1919, was edited by U. P. Hedrick.