bitterroot
/ˈbɪtərˌruːt/
noun
- A small plant with pink or white flowers and a bitter root, native to western North America.
- Native Americans used bitterroot as a food source and for medicinal purposes.
- The bitterroot blooms in early spring on the rocky slopes of Montana.
- Bitterroot is the state flower of Montana.
- The edible root of the bitterroot plant, which tastes bitter when fresh but becomes milder when cooked.
- They dug up bitterroot and boiled it to remove some of the bitterness.
- The bitterroot can be eaten raw, but most people prefer it cooked.
- Dried bitterroot was often stored for winter use by indigenous tribes.