howellii_ and _Arnica latifolia_ flourish. Along the rills _Gentiana
calycosa_, _Arnica chamissonis_ and _Mimulus lewisii_ form banks of
color. On the cliffs _Chelone nemorosa_, _Spiraea densiflora_,
_Polemonium humile_ and _Castilleja rupicola_ are perhaps most
conspicuous.
Above the limit of trees, in what have been called "pumice fields," a
characteristic series of plants appears. This belt ranges in altitude
from 6,500 to 10,000 feet. It is best developed on the east side of
the mountain, where the avalanches from Little Tahoma have covered
great areas with more or less finely divided basalt. Conspicuous
plants of this region are _Lupinus lyallii_, _Spraguea multiceps_,
_Polemonium elegans_, _Hulsea nana_, _Erigeron aureus_, _Oreostemma
alpigena_, _Polygonum newberryi_, _Poa suksdorfii_, _Draba aureola_
and _Smelowskia ovalis_. The last three ascend to above Camp Muir,
altitude 10,000 feet.
The first botanist to visit Mount Rainier was Dr. William F. Tolmie,
surgeon of the Hudson's Bay Company, who reached the mountain in 1833.
He made considerable collections, which were sent to Sir William
Hooker. Among Tolmie's plants were several not previously known.
The writer collected on the mountain in 1888 and again in 1889 and
1895. Since then the following botanists have made collections on
Mount Rainier: Rev. E. C. Smith, in 1889 and 1890; Dr. E. L. Greene,
in 1889; Mr. J. B. Flett in 1895, 1896 and since; Mr. M. W. Gorman in
1897; and Mr. O. D. Allen from 1895 to about 1905.
Most of the work done thus far has been in Paradise Park and its
immediate vicinity. Next to this, the flora of Spray Park is best
known. The east slopes of the peak have been partially explored, but
to the knowledge of the writer no botanist has ever yet collected on
the west slopes.
The list of plants here given numbers 315 species. In preparing it,
Longmire Springs, altitude 2,850 feet, has been selected as the
lowermost limit on the south side of the mountain, and Crater Lake,
altitude about 3,500 feet, as the limit on the north side. It is quite
certain that a considerable number of lowland plants will have to be
added to the list here given, and it is possible that a few have been
included that will have to be dropped, as the exact place of
collection of some species is not clearly indicated on the labels of
the specimens. Unless otherwise stated, the notes are based on the
writer's observations and specimens, and refer mainly to the Paradise
Park region.
There yet remains much to be done in the study of the Mount Rainier
flora. A particularly interesting phase of it lies in the matter of
altitudinal distribution of the various species.
No attempt is here made to list the plants lower than the ferns. The
writer has made considerable collections of the fungi, liverworts and
mosses; and Mr. O. D. Allen has also collected the mosses. These
plants should receive a larger amount of attention from botanists who
visit the mountain in the future.
The following plants were first described from specimens obtained on
Mount Rainier:
=Petasites nivalis= Greene.
=Luina piperi= Robinson.
=Prenanthes stricta= Greene.
=Oreostemma alpigena= (Torrey & Gray) Greene.
=Aster amplifolius= Greene.
=Arnica aspera= Greene.
=Castilleja rupicola= Piper.
=Mimulus caespitosus= Greene.
=Veronica allenii= Greenman.
=Pedicularis ornithorhyncha= Bentham.
=Pedicularis contorta= Bentham.
=Pentstemon tolmiei= Hooker.
=Pentstemon newberryi rupicola= Piper.
=Gentiana calycosa= Grisebach.
=Gentiana calycosa stricta= Grisebach.
=Hydrophyllum congestum= Wiegand.
=Polemonium elegans= Greene.
=Polemonium bicolor= Greenman.
=Dodecatheon crenatum= Greene.
=Vaccinium deliciosum= Piper.
=Ligusticum purpureum= Coulter & Rose.
=Hesperogenia stricklandi= Coulter & Rose.
=Lupinus volcanicus= Greene.
=Stellaria washingtoniana= Robinson.
=Potentilla flabellifolia= Hooker.
=Luzula arcuata major= Hooker.
=Sitanion rigidum= J. G. Smith.
=Sitanion rubescens= Piper.
=Poa saxatilis= Scribner & Williams.
The type specimens of _Saxifraga tolmiei_ were collected by Tolmie on
the "N. W. Coast." It is altogether probable that he got them on Mount
Rainier, where the plant is so abundant.
LIST OF SPECIES
=COMPOSITAE.= (Aster Family.)
=Scorzonella borealis= (Bongard) Greene.
A plant much resembling a dandelion, occurring on the north side of
the mountain.
=Troximon alpestre= Gray.
A plant much resembling the dandelion, frequent on the grassy slopes
at 5,500 feet altitude.
=Troximon aurantiacum= Hooker.
This species has entire mostly basal leaves, and bears a single head
of orange or purple flowers. Common at 5,000 to 6,000 feet.
=Troximon glaucum asperum= (Rydberg) Piper. (_Agoseris leontodon
asperum_ Rydberg.)
A species with large lemon-yellow flowers and hoary pubescent leaves.
It occurs in the pumice and lava at 7,500 feet altitude and is quite
abundant near the base of Little Tahoma.
=Hieracium albiflorum= Hooker.
A tall plant with hairy entire leaves and a rather ample corymb of
white flowers. Essentially a lowland plant, but occurring up to 5,500
feet altitude, especially in burnt ground.
=Hieracium gracile= Hooker.
A small hawkweed with yellow flowers in black hairy involucres. A
common plant at 5,500 to 6,500 feet altitude.
=Cirsium edule= Nuttall.
Plentiful on the ridges of Moraine Park at the limit of trees. Also
reported by Gorman as occurring in open woods near the timber line in
Cowlitz canyon. This thistle is abundant at the sea level, and the
roots were formerly a favorite food of the Indians.
=Saussurea americana= D. C. Eaton.
A peculiar plant with leafy stems, two to four feet high, bearing a
dense cluster of elongate rayless heads of purple flowers. Found only
on the high ridge north of the foot of Cowlitz Glacier.
=Senecio ochraceus= Piper.
Goat Mountains, Allen, No. 230.
=Senecio triangularis= Hooker.
A tall species with triangular coarsely dentate leaves and numerous
rather small heads of yellow flowers. Abundant in the marsh at
Longmire Springs and in wet places on the mountain slopes up to 6,000
feet altitude.
=Senecio ductoris= Piper.
A low species with thickish crenate leaves and deep yellow heads.
Found only on the moraine on the south side of Cowlitz Glacier.
=Senecio flettii= Wiegand.
Found near Cowlitz Chimneys by Miss Winona Bailey, in 1915; previously
known only from the Olympic Mountains.
=Arnica latifolia= Bongard.
A smooth cordate leaved plant with one to five heads, resembling small
sunflowers. Not uncommon up to 6,000 feet altitude, especially in the
shelter of timber.
=Arnica mollis= Hooker.
Similar to the preceding, but the leaves oblong, nearly entire, and
viscid glandular. Abundant along the rivulets, 4,000 to 6,000 feet
altitude.
=Arnica aspera= Greene.
Described from specimens collected in Spray Park. It is very similar
to _A. mollis_ Hooker, but the pubescence is coarser.
=Arnica eradiata= (Gray) Heller.
Closely related to the preceding but easily recognized by its rayless
heads. It occurs on the steep slopes above Sluiskin Falls.
=Luina hypoleuca= Bentham.
A beautiful suffruticose plant, six to twelve inches high, with
entire oval leaves shining green above and white tomentose beneath. It
was originally discovered by Dr. Lyall, of the International Boundary
Survey, in the Cascade Mountains at the 49th parallel. It is not
uncommon about Mount Rainier, occurring on perpendicular cliffs along
the Cowlitz Glacier; in similar places on the banks of the Nisqually
at Longmire Springs; and on the gravel bars of the same river. The
flowers are cream-colored.
=Rainiera stricta= Greene.
(_Prenanthes stricta_ Greene.)
(_Luina piperi_ Robinson.)
(_Luina stricta_ Robinson.)
A tall plant with large oblong entire leaves and a long raceme of
yellowish, rayless heads. Professor Greene makes it the type of a new
genus _Rainiera_, while Dr. Robinson refers it to _Luina_. The plant
has been collected in Spray Park by Professor Greene; on the Goat
Mountains, Allen; near Mount Adams, Henderson; head of Naches River,
Vasey; and on the high ridge northeast of the foot of Cowlitz Glacier
by the writer. The statement that the plant has milky juice is an
error.
=Petasites speciosa= (Nuttall) Piper.
(_Nardosmia speciosa_ Nuttall.)
Abundant along streams up to 3,000 feet altitude. Easily recognized by
its large palmate leaves, which frequently measure a foot or more in
diameter. The flowers appear very early in spring with the leaves and
have an odor suggesting violets. This species is clearly distinct from
the Eastern _P. palmata_ (Aiton) Gray and was long ago well
characterized by Nuttall.
=Petasites frigida= (Linnaeus) Fries.
(_Petasites nivalis_ Greene).
Common along rivulets 4,000 to 5,000 feet altitude. Resembling the
preceding species, but much smaller and with quite different leaves.
=Achillea lanulosa= Nuttall.
An Alpine form of the common Western yarrow. Not rare in the decayed
lava at 6,000 to 7,000 feet altitude.
=Hulsea nana= Gray.
A sticky plant with pinnatifid leaves and large yellow heads.
Plentiful on the east side of the mountain near the base of Little
Tahoma in the pumice fields. This seems to be the northernmost limit
of the plant.
=Anaphalis margaritacea occidentalis= Greene.
The well-known "Everlasting Flower," which occurs in dry or burnt
woods up to 4,000 feet altitude.
=Antennaria media= Greene.
A small depressed cudweed, only an inch or two high. Common at 6,000
feet altitude.
=Antennaria lanata= (Hooker) Greene.
Like the preceding but larger and more hairy. Grassy slopes at 6,000
feet. Common.
=Antennaria racemosa= Hooker.
Collected by Allen in the "upper valley of the Nisqually." A much
larger and greener plant than the preceding species.
=Erigeron salsuginosus= (Richardson) Gray.
The common pink aster or "daisy" of the grassy slopes. One of the most
conspicuous plants at 4,000 to 6,000 feet altitude, but even ascending
to 7,000 feet in a much dwarfed form.
=Erigeron acris debilis= Gray.
An insignificant white-flowered species, rare at about 7,500 feet
altitude.
=Erigeron compositus trifidus= (Hooker) Gray.
A small pinkish aster, with the leaves cut into linear lobes. Growing
in decayed lava at 7,500 feet altitude.
=Erigeron speciosus= De Candolle.
A handsome species with entire ciliate leaves and rather numerous
heads, with deep violet rays. Collected by Allen in the Goat
Mountains, No. 222.
=Erigeron aureus= Greene.
(_Aplopappus brandegei_ Gray.)
A beautiful little aster with bright golden rays, the solitary heads
on scapes two or three inches tall. Abundant in the pumice,
7,500-8,000 feet altitude.
=Aster ledophyllus= Gray.
A tall species with leafy stems, and numerous middle-sized heads with
pink-purple rays. The leaves are entire, pubescent on the under side.
Not uncommon on the grassy slopes at 5,000 feet altitude.
=Aster foliaceus frondeus= Gray.
(_Aster amplifolius_ Greene.)
A species with broad half-clasping leaves and deep-violet-colored
rays. Professor Greene's type came from Mount Rainier, but his species
seems not to differ from the plant earlier described by Dr. Gray.
=Oreostemma alpigena= (Torrey & Gray) Greene.
(_Aster pulchellus_ D. C. Eaton.)
A low plant with narrow tufted leaves, the scapes bearing one or
rarely two large heads. The rays are deep violet. The plant is common
in the pumice fields at 7,000-8,000 feet altitude, but, strange to
say, also occurs on the borders of small lakes at the foot of Pinnacle
Peak at 4,500 feet elevation. In exposed places at high altitudes the
leaves are often curiously twisted. It was originally described from
the specimen collected on Mount Rainier by Tolmie.
=Solidago algida= Piper.
A small goldenrod, two to twelve inches tall, occurring ordinarily on
the faces of perpendicular cliffs at 5,000 to 6,000 feet elevation.
=Artemisia borealis wormskioldii= Besser.
A silky canescent wormwood about one foot high, its leaves pinnate;
found on the north side of the mountain by Flett.
=Artemisia richardsoniana= Besser.
In the Synoptical Flora, Vol. II, p. 371, this species is stated to
have been collected on Mount Rainier by Tolmie. On the sheet in the
Gray Herbarium Dr. Gray has indicated that this is an error, the
specimens having really been collected in the Rocky Mountains by
Burke.
=CAMPANULACEAE.= (Bellflower Family.)
=Campanula rotundifolia= Linnaeus.
This charming and familiar blue bell is abundant on the cliffs near
the foot of Cowlitz Glacier.
=VALERIANACEAE.= (Valerian Family.)
=Valeriana sitchensis= Bongard.
An abundant plant at 4,000 to 6,000 feet altitude. The leaves are
pinnately compound, the rather large leaflets repandly dentate. The
flowers are whitish, usually pink tinged. Like other species, this
valerian has a decidedly unpleasant odor, that is difficult to compare
with any other. To the writer the odor is always associated with
mountain meadows, doubtless because it so frequently predominates in
such places.
=RUBIACEAE.= (Madder Family.)
=Galium triflorum= Michaux.
A very common species of bedstraw which ascends on the lower slopes of
the mountain.
=Galium oreganum= Britton.
Goat Mountains, Allen, No. 296.
=SCROPHULARIACEAE.= (Figwort Family.)
=Chelone nemorosa= Douglas.
A handsome plant with opposite serrate leaves and corymbs of
purple-red flowers somewhat like those of the foxglove. Dry cliffs and
slopes at 5,000 feet altitude. Also reported by Gorman as occurring at
Longmire Springs.
=Pentstemon confertus= Douglas.
A species with entire leaves and dense clusters of small pale yellow
flowers. In its typical form the species is one to two feet tall, but
on Mount Rainier, where it occurs at from 7,000 to 8,000 feet
elevation, it is reduced to two to four inches high, but otherwise not
differing from the type.
=Pentstemon procerus= Douglas.
Like the above, but blue flowered. It occurs at 8,000 feet and on
Rainier is scarcely two inches tall, while at lower altitudes it is
frequently as many feet high. This dwarf Alpine form has been
described by Professor Greene as a new species under the name of
_Pentstemon pulchellus_. It is an interesting fact that Tolmie long
ago collected on Mount Rainier a dwarf species which Hooker named
_Pentstemon tolmiei_. But alas, the specimens are in fruit, and it is
past finding out now whether his plant was the yellow-flowered or the
blue-flowered form. Most likely, however, it was the latter, as that
is far more frequent than the yellow-flowered form.
=Pentstemon diffusus= Douglas.
A handsome species with serrate leaves and blue-purple flowers. Mount
Rainier, Piper 2068. Goat Mountains, Allen 129.
=Pentstemon ovatus= Douglas.
Much like the preceding plant, differing essentially in the anthers.
Collected by Allen "mountains near the upper valley of the Nisqually,"
and by the writer on the slopes of Mount Rainier.
=Pentstemon menziesii= Hooker.
A dwarf prostrate plant with thickish evergreen toothed leaves and
dull purple flowers, abundant on the rocks at 8,000 feet elevation. A
variety with the leaves entire instead of denticulate, _P. davidsonii_
Greene, also occurs on the mountain.
=Pentstemon rupicola= (Piper) Howell.
Much like the preceding, but with glaucous leaves and rose-colored
larger flowers. The writer found it originally on the perpendicular
cliffs, at the limit of trees above "Camp of the Clouds."
=Collinsia tenella= (Pursh) Piper.
Collected by Flett on an old moraine along the Carbon Glacier.
=Mimulus lewisii= Pursh.
Abundant along rills, 4,000 to 5,000 feet altitude. Easily known by
its opposite dentate leaves, viscid pubescence and rose-purple
corollas. The original specimens were collected in Idaho by the Lewis
and Clark expedition.
=Mimulus breweri= (Greene) Rydberg.
(_Eunanus breweri_ Greene.)
A minute species with pale purple flowers, abundant on dry cliffs near
"Camp of the Clouds."
=Mimulus alpinus= (Gray) Piper.
(_M. luteus alpinus_ Gray.)
(_M. scouleri caespitosus_ Greene.)
A dwarf plant with matted stolons, the bright yellow flowers painting
the cliffs wherever there is dripping water. The Mount Rainier plants
match closely the original types collected by Dr. Parry in Wyoming, so
that Professor Greene's name is clearly a synonym of the earlier one
of Gray.
=Veronica alpina= Linnaeus.
A small plant two or three inches high, with several pairs of small,
ovate, pubescent leaves, and a terminal raceme of small blue flowers.
Common at 4,500 to 5,500 feet altitude.
=Veronica cusickii= Gray.
A very similar plant to the above, but with larger blue flowers and
smooth leaves. Abundant just above "Camp of the Clouds."
=Veronica allenii= Greenman.
Much like the preceding species, but with smaller white flowers. A new
species discovered by Allen "near Paradise River at 5,400 feet
elevation."
=Castilleja miniata= Douglas.
This vivid scarlet "Painted Cup" or "Indian Pink" is easily known by
its entire leaves. Not infrequent at 5,000 to 6,000 feet; also
occurring at lower altitudes down to sea-level.
=Castilleja angustifolia hispida= (Bentham) Fernald.
Very similar to the last, but the flower spikes shorter and the leaves
cut-lobed. Bear Prairie, Allen.
=Castilleja rupicola= Piper.
Like the last, but smaller, the leaves usually purplish and deeply
cut, the flowers intensely scarlet and with very long beaks. On the
cliffs on both sides of Sluiskin Falls, whence the original specimens
were obtained.
=Castilleja oreopola= Greenman.
The common species of the grassy slopes, the flowers reddish-purple or
occasionally white.
=Pedicularis bracteosa= Bentham.
A tall "lousewort," with fern-like leaves and a long terminal spike of
greenish-white flowers. Frequent in wet places up to 5,500 feet
altitude.
=Pedicularis contorta= Douglas.
A yellow-flowered species not rare at 7,000 feet elevation along the
Nisqually Glacier. First found by Tolmie on Mount Rainier.
=Pedicularis surrecta= Bentham.
The reddish flowers with long, coiled beaks easily distinguish this
plant. Common in wet meadows at 4,000 feet altitude.
=Pedicularis ornithorhyncha= Bentham.
Much like the preceding but with beakless flowers. Originally
described from Mount Rainier specimens collected by Tolmie in 1833,
and not again seen until the writer collected them in the same place
in 1888. The plant has since been found at two or three places north
of Mount Rainier, but all in Washington.
=Pedicularis racemosa= Douglas.
The commonest species, easily known by its half prostrate habit,
lanceolate leaves, and short clusters of white or pinkish twisted
flowers. Ranges from 3,000 to 5,000 feet elevation.
=PINGUICULACEAE.= (Butterwort Family.)
=Pinguicula vulgaris= Linnaeus.
The butterwort, with its greasy entire leaves in a rosette and
solitary violet flowers is not rare on moist cliffs.
=LABIATAE.= (Mint Family.)
=Madronella discolor= Greene.
A very sweet-smelling plant, the only mint as yet found on the
mountain. Occurs on the talus of the high cliffs on the north side of
Cowlitz Glacier.
=BORAGINACEAE.= (Borage Family.)
=Mertensia laevigata= Piper.
A handsome branched herb, two feet high or more. The large entire
leaves and the cluster of small blue tubular flowers make it readily
recognizable. Frequent at 4,000 to 5,000 feet altitude.
=Cryptantha muriculata= (A. De Candolle) Greene.
Goat Mountains, Flett; a small common lowland plant with white
flowers.
=HYDROPHYLLACEAE.= (Waterleaf Family.)
=Hydrophyllum albifrons= Heller.
(_Hydrophyllum congestum_ Wiegand.)
On the meadows near Van Trump Glacier.
=Romanzoffia sitchensis= Bongard.
A handsome little plant with orbicular coarsely dentate leaves and a
loose cluster of small white flowers. In habit much like some
saxifrages. Rare on wet cliffs near Sluiskin Falls.
=Phacelia nemoralis= Greene.
This plant occurs on rock talus along the north side of Cowlitz
Glacier.
=Phacelia sericea= Gray.
A handsome species with silvery leaves and dense clusters of purple
flowers. Collected somewhere on the mountain by Rev. E. C. Smith in
1890.
=POLEMONIACEAE.= (Phlox Family.)
=Phlox diffusa= Bentham.
A prostrate plant with acerose leaves, when in bloom forming dense
masses of pale blue. Common at 5,500 to 6,500 feet altitude, in rocky
soil.
=Gilia gracilis= (Douglas) Hooker.
Growing on an old moraine along Carbon Glacier, Flett.
=Gilia nuttallii= Gray.
A white-flowered species found by Rev. E. C. Smith in 1890 somewhere
on the southwest slopes of the mountain.
=Collomia debilis= (Watson) Greene.
Not rare in talus at the base of basalt cliffs on the east side of the
mountain at 7,000 feet altitude.
=Collomia heterophylla= Hooker.
Found by Mr. Gorman on the gravelly banks of the Nisqually at Longmire
Springs; also by Flett; a common lowland plant.
=Polemonium humile= Roemer & Schultes.
A handsome plant with pinnate leaves and corymbs of pale blue flowers.
Common on the rocks at 5,000 to 6,000 feet altitude.
=Polemonium elegans= Greene.
(_P. bicolor_ Greenman.)
Similar to the preceding, but smaller and very glandular, the blue
flowers having a large yellow center. Rather rare in pumice at 7,500
feet elevation.
=Polemonium viscosum pilosum= Greenman.
Very much like the preceding plant. Discovered by Allen on the Goat
Mountains, No. 261.
=GENTIANACEAE.= (Gentian Family.)
=Gentiana calycosa= Grisebach.
An elegant plant with deep blue bell-shaped flowers. Abundant along
the rills at 5,000 feet. The species was described from Mount Rainier
specimens collected by Tolmie in 1833. Grisebach also described a
variety _stricta_, based on very trivial characters.
=PRIMULACEAE.= (Primrose Family.)
=Dodecatheon jeffreyi= Van Houtte.
(_D. crenatum_ Greene.)
(_D. viviparum_ Greene.)
Plentiful in wet places at 4,500 to 5,500 feet elevation. Professor
Greene's types came from Spray Park.
=Douglasia laevigata= Gray.
A handsome little plant forming broad mats and bearing blood-red
flowers in corymbs. Goat Mountains, Allen.
=Trientalis latifolia= Hooker.
Gorman reports this plant as occurring in coniferous woods between
Longmire Springs and Paradise Park.
=PYROLACEAE.= (Indian Pipe Family.)
=Chimaphila umbellata= (Linnaeus) Nuttall.
Reported by Gorman "on the trail above Longmire Springs, in coniferous
woods."
=Chimaphila menziesii= (R. Brown) Sprengel.
In deep coniferous woods, 2,000 to 4,000 feet elevation.
=Pyrola secunda= Linnaeus.
Growing with the preceding.
=Pyrola bracteata= Hooker.
Reported by Gorman "in coniferous woods along the Nisqually River at
2,850 feet."
=Moneses uniflora= (Linnaeus) Gray.
In woods near the base of the mountain.
=Monotropa hypopitys= Linnaeus.
Common in the dense shade of conifers along the trail above
Longmire's.
=Pterospora andromedea= Nuttall.
This peculiar plant occurs along the Nisqually trail at about 3,000
feet altitude.
=Allotropa virgata= Torrey & Gray.
This queer plant is abundant in coniferous woods on the north side of
the mountain, but it is doubtful whether it comes within our limits.
=ERICACEAE.= (Heath Family.)
=Menziesia glabella= Gray.
A shrub four to eight feet high, much resembling a huckleberry, but
the fruit is dry.
=Kalmia polifolia microphylla= (Hooker) Piper.
In wet places at 7,000 feet altitude near Nisqually Glacier.
=Phyllodoce empetriformis= (Smith) D. Don.
The common red-flowered heather, abundant on dryish slopes at 5,000 to
6,000 feet elevation.
=Phyllodoce glanduliflora= (Hooker) Coville.
Much like the preceding, but the flowers yellowish-white and
glandular. Frequent at 6,500 to 7,500 feet elevation.
=Cassiope mertensiana= (Bongard) Donn.
A low shrub growing with _Phyllodoce empetriformis_, and having small
pendent, bell-shaped white flowers.
=Harrimanella stelleriana= (Pallas) Coville.
On the moist cliffs overlooking the Nisqually Glacier, at 5,500 feet
elevation. This is the southernmost known station for the plant.