Rhodiola rosea; roseroot is a succulent dioecious plant meaning plants develop either male or female flowers. The opening photo depicts a male plant. Roseroot can be found almost everywhere except for some desert regions north of the Vatnajökull. However, they can not survive sheep grazing. Thus they can only grow on places inaccessible to sheep. Hence, they are common on steep cliffs but also in the Hornstrandir region in the extreme north west where sheep grazing is prohibited in this nature reserve. In the world of alternative and natural health and medicine this plant is highly valued - it seems. It is regarded as a potent anti-aging medicine and an alternative to Ginseng.
It is a member of the Stonecrop (Crassulaceae) family.
Text & Photographs by Dick Vuijk
- unless stated otherwise
List: Stonecrop family (Crassulaceae),
look here for
more plant groups listsClick on thumbnails or latin names to get information on the species.