Biscuit root; Lewis’s lomatium
The journals do not quote Lewis describing this plant directly; the roots are documented through the herbarium specimens and Lewis’s Camp Chopunnish entries on the cous harvest. On May 10, 1806 he wrote that “the noise of their women pounding roots reminds me of a nail factory.”
In the NPS atlas of species the expedition described
Biscuit root; Lewis's lomatium
Found in Nez Perce county. Lewis reported plants collected along the Clearwater River had roots "5 to 6 inches long eaten raw or boiled by natives."
Encyclopedia of Life page for Biscuit root; Lewis's lomatium (opens in a new tab) On the atlas map
Source: National Park Service, Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail Park Atlas.
Where it’s being seen today
1 research-grade iNaturalist observation between 2021–2021. Most recent: 2021-06-08. Sourced from Terrain360 trail captures, cached locally.
