MOOSE, Wyo. — Arrowleaf balsamroot is one of the most common wildflowers in Grand Teton National Park (GTNP), bringing the color of sunshine to the landscape even on a rainy day.
Arrowleaf balsamroot is known as balsamorhiza sagittata, part of the Aster family. It’s also referred to as breadroot, graydock and spring sunflower.
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, deer, elk, bighorn sheep and pronghorn eat the leaves, stems and flowers, as young tissues of arrowleaf balsamroot contain nearly 30 percent protein. However, climate change is starting to disrupt the relationship between plants and animal species.
Many tribes have a history of using arrowleaf balsamroot medicinally, including the Niitsitapi (Blackfoot), Newe (Shoshone), Ktunaxa (Kutenai), Numa (Paiute), Tsis tsis’tas (Cheyenne) and Séliš (Flathead).
Arrowleaf balsamroot has a high drought tolerance and ability to recover quickly after disturbances to its communities. The Bureau of Land Management reports the species are rarely killed by even severe fire.
