Appearance
''Rhodiola rosea'' is from 5 to 40 centimetres tall, fleshy, and has several stems growing from a short, scaly rootstock. Flowers have 4 sepals and 4 petals, yellow to greenish yellow in color sometimes tipped with red, about 1 to 3.5 millimetres long, and blooming in summer. Several shoots growing from the same thick root may reach 5 to 35 centimetres in height. ''R. rosea'' is dioecious – having separate female and male plants.
Distribution
''Rhodiola rosea'' grows in cold regions of the world, including much of the Arctic, the mountains of Central Asia, scattered in eastern North America and mountainous parts of Europe. It grows on sea cliffs and on mountains at high altitude.Uses
The leaves and shoots are eaten raw, having a bitter flavor, or cooked like spinach, and are sometimes added to salads. An extract is sometimes added as a flavoring in vodkas.References:
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