balsamroot

1 9.9

A plant that lives for many years with soft round leaves and bright yellow daisy-like flowers

noun
/ˈbɔːlsəmruːt/

Specialized

: balsamito

In spring, the fields are filled with vibrant yellow flowers from balsamroot and other wildflowers.
arrowleaf balsamroot

Examples

Forbs are broadleaf plants that don't have woody stems and include perennial plants such as arrowleaf balsamroot and tapertip hawksbeard.

Academic text (2003)
As I hiked through the mountains, I admired the patches of balsamroot dotting the landscape with their bright colors.
The golden yellow of arrowleaf balsamroot and the purple of lupine contrast intensely with the new grass.

Academic text (2002)
The balsamroot plant thrives in the dry conditions of the western United States, producing stunning yellow blooms.

Synonyms

Balsamorhiza

vsbalsamroot

Specialized

9.9

A group of wild plants like sunflowers that grow in dry western North America and have strong-smelling roots

is a perennial plant in the genus with downy rosette leaves and yellow flowers

Surface Forms

balsamroot singular

balsamroots plural

Morphology

balsamroot = balsam + root (semi-transparent) = balsam + root

Formed by straightforward compounding of 'balsam' + 'root', but it names a specific plant (genus Balsamorhiza), which may not be fully predictable to learners unfamiliar with 'balsam'.

Etymology

Balsamroot comes from balsam, a word for a sweet smelling resin or 'balm' used as medicine, plus root. So you can remember balsamroot as a plant whose root was used like a soothing 'balm', which explains its name.