Plant
Bitterroot; rock rose
Lewisia rediviva
Photo: Wikimedia Commons via Wikipedia
Habitat
Mouth of Lolo Creek, MT
Conservation
Apparently secure
First Observed
1806-07-02
As name implies, Lewis found root bitter; natives ate it heartily. Named for Lewis and ability of dried plant to regrow.
Recent sightings
Where it’s being seen today
8 research-grade iNaturalist observations between 2022–2025. Most recent: 2025-06-09. Sourced from Terrain360 trail captures, cached locally.
Journal References
15 journal entries mention Bitterroot; rock rose
Sep
3
1803
Meriwether Lewis: September 3, 1803
...it, immersed the Thermometer in the river, and the murcury arose immediately to 75° or summer heat so that there is 12° difference is sufficient to shew the vapor...
Sep
4
1803
Meriwether Lewis: September 4, 1803
...2d in twenty four hours, coolder: at ¼ past 8. the murcury rose in the open air to 68° the fogg dispeared. and we set out; the difference therefore of 5° in temp...
May
14
1804
Patrick Gass: May 14, 1804
...1807; 1811 reprint). Public domain. McKeehan’s published prose, not Gass’s lost original notebook.
May
15
1804
Patrick Gass: May 15, 1804
...1807; 1811 reprint). Public domain. McKeehan’s published prose, not Gass’s lost original notebook.
May
16
1804
Patrick Gass: May 16, 1804
...1807; 1811 reprint). Public domain. McKeehan’s published prose, not Gass’s lost original notebook.
May
17
1804
Patrick Gass: May 17, 1804
...1807; 1811 reprint). Public domain. McKeehan’s published prose, not Gass’s lost original notebook.
May
18
1804
Patrick Gass: May 18, 1804
...1807; 1811 reprint). Public domain. McKeehan’s published prose, not Gass’s lost original notebook.
May
19
1804
Patrick Gass: May 19, 1804
...1807; 1811 reprint). Public domain. McKeehan’s published prose, not Gass’s lost original notebook.
May
20
1804
Patrick Gass: May 20, 1804
...1807; 1811 reprint). Public domain. McKeehan’s published prose, not Gass’s lost original notebook.
May
21
1804
Patrick Gass: May 21, 1804
...1807; 1811 reprint). Public domain. McKeehan’s published prose, not Gass’s lost original notebook.
Jul
8
1804
Missouri River near St. Joseph area — Joseph Whitehouse: July 8, 1804
the wind Rose before we starte’ and blew fair with us
Sail‘ Chiefly for the space of Eight hours we came to S...
May
1
1805
Missouri River near Porcupine River — Joseph Whitehouse: May 1, 1805
...sant, and the timber more pleanty. about 12 oClock
the wind rose So high that we were oblidged to halt in a bottom
of timber on the South Side. one cannoe lay on th...
Jun
1
1805
Missouri River near Marias River approach — Joseph Whitehouse: June 1, 1805
...and air our goods
1805] WHITEHOUSE’S JOURNAL
&c. the wind rose from the S. E. the river bears to the
South, handsom baron plains back from the river. we Saw
Mount...
Aug
12
1805
Joseph Whitehouse: August 12, 1805
...Swampy
bottoms. about 2 oClock P. M. a hard Thunder Shower
arose rained a Short time. we then proceeded on the current
more rapid one of the large canoes was near t...
Jun
4
1806
Camp Chopunnish (Long Camp), waiting for snow to melt — Patrick Gass: June 4, 1806
.... The river fell considerably yes-
terday, and in the night rose only an inch and an half. At
noon one of our hunters came in with two deer he had killed.
The after...