_Rose Family._
Herbs, shrubs, or trees with alternate leaves and perfect flowers;
calyx free or adnate to the ovary, 5—9-lobed; petals equal in number
to the calyx lobes, distinct or none; stamens usually numerous and
distinct; fruit mostly follicles or achenes.
Carpels few; in fruit becoming 2-several sided.
Stamens united at the base; flowers racemose. =Lutkea.=
Stamens not united at the base; flowers in panicles or corymbs.
Shrubs with simple leaves, flowers perfect. =Spiræa.=
Herbs with compound leaves; flowers diœcious. =Aruncus.=
Carpels few or many; in fruit becoming achenes or drupelets.
Fruit consisting of drupelets, usually united. =Rubus.=
Fruit consisting of achenes.
Achenes enclosed in a fleshy fruit; prickly shrubs. =Rosa.=
Achenes on a plane or concave receptacle; herbs.
Styles deciduous, naked.
Styles terminal. =Potentilla.=
Styles lateral.
Carpels hairy; shrubs. =Dasyphora.=
Carpels smooth; herbs.
Stamens 5; carpels 10—15. =Sibbaldia.=
Stamens 20; carpels numerous.
Leaves trifoliate; receptacle fleshy. =Fragaria.=
Leaves pinnate; receptacle not fleshy.
Flowers dark purple. =Comarum.=
Flowers yellow.
Plant with stolons; flowers solitary.
=Argentina.=
Styles persistent, mostly plumose.
Calyx lobes and petals 8 or 9. =Dryas.=
Calyx lobes and petals 5.
Style jointed, upper part deciduous. =Geum.=
Style not jointed, upper part plumose. =Sieversia.=
[Illustration: Tiarella unifoliata Hook. (¼ Nat.) Western Foam-Flower.]
[Illustration: Lutkea pectinata (Pursh) Kuntze. (⅔ Nat.) Cut-Leaved
Lutkea.]
[Sidenote: =Lutkea pectinata= (Pursh.) Kuntze. _Cut-leaved Lutkea._]
Smooth, stems cæspitose, very leafy. Leaves trifoliate, persistent,
leaflets deeply 2—4-lobed, the lateral ones decumbent, forming a broad
petiole. Flowering stems 2—6 inches high with a dense terminal raceme
of many white flowers, about ¼ of an inch broad; calyx lobes ovate,
acute; petals 5, obovate, exceeding the calyx; stamens numerous,
shorter than the petals.
Frequent throughout the Selkirks, on alpine slopes and beside streams
at the higher elevations; flowering in June.
[Sidenote: =Spiræa densiflora= Nutt. _Pink Spiræa._]
Stem 2—4 feet high, reddish. Leaves ovate or elliptical, serrulate at
the apex, entire below, narrowed at the base to a very short petiole or
the lowest sessile, dark green on both sides, ½—1 inch long. Flowers
small, deep rose-colour in dense, round, leafy, bracted corymbs,
terminating the numerous branches.
In moist, exposed, rocky places and on slopes at the lower altitudes,
frequent in the Selkirks; flowering in June.
[Sidenote: =Spiræa lucida= Dougl. _Birch-leaved Spiræa._]
Stems erect, mostly simple, 1—2 feet high, from horizontal running
rootstocks. Leaves, the lower ones small, obovate; upper, oval to
oblong, 1—2 inches long, often obscurely lobed and doubly serrate above
the middle, smooth throughout, dark green above, paler beneath. Flowers
white or tinged with pink in a large flat branching terminal corymb.
Abundant throughout the region on hillsides and dry banks; flowering
during July.
[Illustration: Rubus pedatus Smith. (⅔ Nat.) Creeping Raspberry.]
[Sidenote: =Aruncus Aruncus= (L.) Karst. _Goat’s-Beard._]
Smooth throughout, stem erect, somewhat branched, 2—4 feet high.
Leaves long-petioled, 2—3 pinnate, leaflets 1—3 inches long, ovate or
lanceolate, thin, acuminate or acute at the apex, rounded or slightly
heart-shaped at the base, doubly serrate or incised. Flowers small,
white, in an elongated spike.
Frequent along streams throughout the Selkirks; flowering during June
and July.
[Sidenote: =Rubus pedatus= Smith. _Creeping Raspberry._]
Stems slender, trailing, 1—3 feet long, unarmed, rooting at the
nodes, pubescent. Leaves trifoliate, leaflets obovate, cuneate at the
base, ¾—1 inch long incised, lateral leaflets often parted to the
base, smooth or sparingly hairy. Flowers usually solitary, on long
slender pedicels, white or rosy, ⅛ of an inch or more broad; sepals
ovate-lanceolate, entire or incised, exceeding the petals; berry of 1—6
large red, juicy drupelets.
Frequent throughout the region in cold damp woods, forming masses of
considerable size; flowering during June.
[Sidenote: =Rubus arcticus= L. _Arctic Raspberry._]
Stem low, herbaceous, unarmed, finely hairy, 3—10 inches high,
sometimes leafless below. Leaves 3-foliate, leaflets sessile or
short-stalked, rhombic-ovate or obovate, coarsely and unequally serrate
or slightly lobed, ¾—1 inch long. Flowers solitary or occasionally 2,
slender peduncled; petals obovate, pink, ½—1 inch long; sepals acute,
equalling or shorter than the petals, reflexed; berry light red,
fragrant and edible.
In cold mossy thickets and swamps throughout the region, the first
flowers appearing in May and early June when the stems are but a
few inches high, with the leaves hardly unfolded; in midsummer it
frequently flowers again from branched stems 8—10 inches high and
appearing like a different plant.
[Sidenote: =Rubus Americanus= (Pers.) Britton. _Dwarf Raspberry._]
Stems herbaceous, trailing or ascending, unarmed, 6—18 inches or more
long, somewhat hairy. Leaves petioled, 3-foliate or rarely 5-foliate
leaflets rhombic-ovate, smooth or nearly so, acute, the lateral ones
mostly rounded, terminal, wedge-shaped at the base, all sharply
serrate. Flowers 1—3 on a slender glandular-hairy peduncle, ½ an inch
or less broad; petals 5—7, white, spatulate-oblong, erect, rather
longer than the acuminate calyx lobes; fruit red-purple, half an inch
long.
In cold moist woods and swampy places throughout the region; flowering
in May and June.
[Sidenote: =Rubus parviflorus= Nutt. _Salmon-berry._]
Stems shrubby, 3—8 feet high, smooth or more or less glandular-hairy.
Leaves round-cordate in outline, palmately 3—5-lobed, the lobes acute
or acutish, rarely acuminate, coarsely and unequally serrate. Flowers
few, 1—2 inches broad, white, in corymbose, terminal heads, calyx lobes
tipped with a long slender appendage.
Borders of woods, and in thickets among rocks, throughout the region,
but most abundant in the Selkirks; flowering in June and July.
[Illustration: Rubus parviflorus Nutt. (⅔ Nat.) Salmon-Berry.]
[Sidenote: =Rubus strigosus= Michx. _Wild Red Raspberry._]
Stems shrubby, biennial, 18 inches to 4 feet high, usually densely
clothed with weak glandular bristles or the older stems with small
hooked prickles. Leaves pinnately 3—5-foliate, leaflets ovate or
ovate-oblong, acuminate, sharply and irregularly serrate or slightly
lobed, rounded at the base, 1—3 inches long. Flowers ½ an inch broad
in a loose raceme on slender pedicels, curved in fruit; petals white,
ascending, about equalling the spreading acuminate sepals; fruit dark
red, sweet and very juicy.
The common red raspberry throughout the region in dry and rocky places;
flowering in June.
[Sidenote: =Dasyphora fruticosa= (L.) Rydb. _Shrubby Cinquefoil._]
Shrubby, much branched; stems erect or ascending, very leafy, 6 inches
to 3 feet high, the bark shreddy. Leaves pinnate with 5—7 oblong,
entire, acute leaflets, with long silky hairs and revolute margins.
Flowers bright yellow, ¾—1½ inches broad, usually solitary at the ends
of the branches.
A very abundant plant throughout the region, in swampy grounds,
gravelly river shores, on dry slopes and alpine meadows, flowering
throughout the summer.
[Sidenote: =Sibbaldia procumbens= L. _Sibbaldia._]
Stems densely tufted, decumbent or creeping, 1—4 inches long.
Leaves 3-foliate, leaflets wedge-shaped, 3—5-toothed at the apex
with scattered hairs on both sides. Flowers ¼ of an inch broad,
greenish-yellow; petals very small, not exceeding the calyx.
Frequent throughout the region on rocks, usually in dry, exposed
situations at elevations varying from 4000 to 10,000 feet; flowering
during June and July.
[Sidenote: =Fragaria glauca= (S. Wats.) Rydb. _Wild Strawberry._]
Plant spreading, 3—6 inches tall, hairy, forming new plants by the
running stems after flowering. Leaves tufted from the root, very
hairy, palmately 3-foliate; leaflets obtuse, strongly serrate, the
teeth gland-tipped; lateral leaflets ovate, oblique on the inside,
shorter than the terminal one; terminal leaflet broadly ovate with a
wedge-shaped base. Flowers white, ¾ of an inch broad; petals slightly
longer than the sepals, borne on a scape about ⅓ longer than the
leaves. Fruit ovoid, rather small.
On grassy banks and roadsides throughout the Rockies; flowering in late
May and early June.
[Illustration: Fragaria glauca (S. Wats.) Rydb. (½ Nat.) Wild
Strawberry.]
[Illustration: Amelanchier florida Lindl. (⅓ Nat.) Service-Berry.]
[Sidenote: =Comarum palustre= (L.) _Marsh Cinquefoil._]
Smooth, decumbent at the base, 6 inches to 2 feet long. Leaves pinnate,
the lower long-petioled with 5—7 oblong or oblanceolate, sharply
serrate leaflets, which are lighter-coloured and more or less hairy
beneath; upper leaflets similar, 3—5. Flowers few, in an open cyme;
calyx lobes purple within, acuminate, nearly ½ an inch long, enlarging
in fruit; petals much shorter than the sepals.
A marsh plant frequent throughout the region in very wet situations, at
the lower altitudes; flowering in July.
[Sidenote: =Argentina Anserina= (L.) Rydb. _Silver-weed._]
Herbaceous, spreading by runners. Leaves all at the root, interruptedly
pinnate with 7—21 leaflets and smaller ones interposed; oblong, sharply
serrate, dark green above, soft, white-hairy beneath. Flowers bright
yellow, ½—1 inch broad, solitary on long pedicels, petals exceeding the
ovate, acute, calyx lobes.
In open and waste ground and meadows throughout the Rockies at the
lower altitudes; flowering during June and July.
[Sidenote: =Potentilla nivea= L. _Snowy Cinquefoil._]
Stem 4—8 inches high, woody at the base, with long silky hairs. Leaves
3-foliate, the lower petioled; leaflets oblong or obovate, usually
deeply cut, densely, white-hairy beneath, green and loosely soft-hairy
above, ¾—1 inch long. Flowers 1—5, bright yellow, ½—¾ of an inch broad;
sepals silky, lanceolate, shorter than the broadly ovate, notched
petals.
Frequent throughout the Rockies in open, rocky situations; flowering
during June and July.
[Sidenote: =Potentilla dissecta= Pursh. _Cut-leaved Cinquefoil._]
Stem decumbent or ascending 4—8 inches high from a woody base, more or
less silky-villous or nearly smooth. Leaves pinnate or tripinnate with
5—7 lanceolate, deeply cut leaflets, usually glaucous and with ciliate
edges. Flowers few, bright yellow, ½ an inch or more broad with notched
petals, in an open cyme.
In open alpine meadows and slopes throughout the region at the higher
altitudes; flowering during June and July.
[Sidenote: =Potentilla multisecta= (Wats.) Rydb.]
Much like the preceding species but much more hairy throughout and with
more divided leaves. Flowers in a loose cyme on scapes 4—6 inches high,
not quite so large as in the preceding nor as brilliantly coloured.
Dry rocky summits and ledges throughout the Rockies; flowering in June.
[Sidenote: =Potentilla uniflora= (Ledeb.) _Alpine Cinquefoil._]
Densely cæspitose from a woody base. Leaves closely tufted, small,
palmately divided, leaflets deeply cut, densely white-woolly on both
surfaces. Flowers solitary on short peduncles, bright yellow, half an
inch or more broad; petals broadly obovate, notched at the apex, much
longer than the densely soft-hairy lanceolate sepals.
A high alpine species in dry stony ground throughout the Rockies, not
common; flowering in July.
[Sidenote: =Geum macrophyllum= Willd. _Large-leaved Avens._]
Stout, erect, stiff-hairy, 1—3 feet high. Leaves lyrate-pinnate with
broad foliaceous stipules, basal leaves petioled, the terminal segment
much the largest, reniform, dentate, 3—7-lobed; lateral leaflets 3—6
oval or obovate with smaller ones interspersed. Flowers several, short
peduncled, borne in a terminal head; bright yellow, nearly ½ an inch
broad; petals longer than the acuminate sepals; receptacle nearly
smooth.
In damp places and low grounds throughout the region, most abundant in
the Selkirks; flowering in June.
[Sidenote: =Geum strictum= Ait. _Yellow Avens._]
Hairy, branched above, 2—4 feet high. Stipules broad, foliaceous; basal
leaves lyrate-pinnate; leaflets 5—7, obovate, cuneate, dentate or
lobed, the terminal one largest, broadly ovate or cuneate, stem leaves
sessile or short-petioled with 3—5 ovate or oblong, acute segments.
Flowers yellow, ½ an inch broad; receptacle downy.
In swamps or low grounds throughout the region; flowering in June.
[Illustration: _a_ Geum strictum Ait. Yellow Avens.
_b_ Sieversia ciliata (Pursh) Don. Long-Plumed Purple Avens.
(⅔ Nat.)]
[Sidenote: =Sieversia ciliata= (Pursh.) Don. _Long-Plumed Purple
Avens._]
Soft-hairy, scapose; scape 4—18 inches high, simple, 3—8-flowered at
the summit. Basal leaves petioled, interruptedly pinnate with many
small leaflets, among the numerous obovate, deeply cut larger ones.
Flowers ½ an inch broad of 5 pale purplish-pink petals hardly exceeding
the calyx and spreading linear red bractlets; styles plumose in fruit,
1—2 inches long.
In dry open grounds extending into the Rockies from the plains, where
it is especially abundant, to the lower slopes and valleys throughout
the region; flowering in June.
[Sidenote: =Dryas octopetala= L. _White Mountain Avens._]
Stems prostrate, branched, 3—6 inches long. Leaves oblong or ovate,
½—1 inch long, obtuse at each end, closely crenate, dark green and
shining above, densely white-woolly beneath. Flowers solitary on
slender pedicels, white, an inch or more broad; petals longer than the
6—8 spreading linear sepals; stamens numerous, anthers bright yellow;
styles conspicuously plumose in fruit.
Frequent in dry stony ground throughout the Rockies at elevations
ranging from 4000 to 10,000 feet, forming dense mats of considerable
size on the surface of the ground; flowering in June.
[Sidenote: =Dryas Drummondii= Richards. _Drummond’s Mountain Avens._]
Similar in manner of growth and general appearance to the preceding
species. Leaves generally narrower at the base, the lobes
dentate-crenate. Flowers ½ an inch long, campanulate, drooping on a
densely woolly pedicel; sepals ovate, acute, black glandular-hairy;
petals lanceolate, obtuse, bright yellow, about twice the length of the
sepals; stamens included; styles numerous, conspicuously plumose in
fruit.
In gravel and loose stony soil throughout the Rockies, especially
abundant on river shores and flood-plains, like the previous species
frequently forming mats of considerable size; flowering in June.
[Illustration: _a_ Dryas octopetala L. White Mountain Avens.
_b_ Dryas Drummondii Rich. Drummond’s Mountain Avens.
(⅞ Nat.)]
[Sidenote: =Rosa Macounii= Greene. _Macoun’s Rose._]
Stems branched, 2—3 feet high, prickly. Leaves pinnate, leaflets large,
¾—1½ inches long, oval, coarsely toothed. Flowers solitary, on slender
pedicels, bright pink, petals broadly obovate, an inch or more long,
sepals entire with a long acuminate obtuse tip, persistent and erect in
fruit, fruit globose, bright scarlet.
The wild rose of the region, in open ground, on slopes, borders of
woods, stream and river banks throughout the Rockies; flowering in late
June and early July.