Bitterroot (Lewisia rediviva Pursh) is a small, low plant in the Montiaceae (Purslane) family that is found in scattered locations in mountain areas of California up to 9,700 ft. It has a showy pink to white flower and is the state flower of Montana. The Lewisia genus is named after Meriwether Lewis. It is a low-growing perennial plant with a fleshy taproot and a simple or branched base. The The plant goes dormant in summer but will emerge from the taproot with winter rain. flower stems are leafless, 1-3 centimeter tall, bearing at the tip a whorl of 5-6 linear leafs which are 5-10 millimeter long. A single, relatively large flower appears on each stem with 6-9 oval shaped sepals. They range in color from whitish to deep pink or rose during May and June. The petals (usually about 15) are oblong in shape and are 18-35 millimeter long in length. Also see Lewisia cotyledon, a closely related species.