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 WHITE
DRYAS Dryas octopetala White dryas is a dwarf,
mat-forming shrub. The prostrate, trailing branches rootfreely,
and the stems are leafy with dried persistent leaves. The dark
green leaves are leathery, wrinkled, lanceolate, coarsely serrated
on the margins and whitish-hairy on the underside, giving the
leaf a two-tone appearance. Each erect, two- to 10-inch stem
bears a single, large, white flower with eight to 10 petals
and numerous stamens. The persistent styles elongate into long
plumes and are featherlike in appearance. HABITAT/RANGE: Prefers
wet, gravelly, or stony soils of high montane or above timberline.
Well-distributed from Alaska to Labrador, and in the Rocky Mountains,
south to Colorado and northeast Oregon. Flowers July through
August. FACTS/USES: The specific name means eight-petaled. This
shrub has many adaptations for its high, cold environment.
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 WOODS
STRAWBERRY Fragaria vesca Woods strawberry is
a low, perennial herb that spreads by stolons or runners. The
plant ascends from a scaly rootstock, producing a small, basal
clump of compound leaves. The leaves have three coarsely toothed
leaflets that generally are bright yellow-green and prominently
veined. The flowers are borne in small clusters and have five
white petals and 20-25 stamens. The aggregate fruit is red, fleshy
and juicy. Another related species (F. virginiana) is differentiated by glaucous, bluish-green, thick and not prominently
veined leaves. HABITAT/RANGE: An inhabitant of moist meadows,
stream banks and open woods. Widely distributed throughout temperate
North America, Europe, Asia and South America. Blooms in spring
and early summer. FACTS/USES: Vesca means weak or feeble.
The berries are sweet and delicious raw or cooked into jams, jellies
or syrups
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 LARGE-LEAVED AVENS Geum macrophyllum Large-leaved avens is
a delicate-looking plant that grows up to three feet tall with
several stems and a few small half-inch, bright yellow flowers
on delicate branches at the top. The flowers become rounded seed
heads. Geums, or avens, are very similar to cinquefoils (Potentilla). But Geum's style is jointed and bent
near the center, and its pinnately compound leaves have a few
large, one-inch leaflets that are narrow at the base and broad
at the tip. HABITAT/RANGE: This moist, mountain meadow and woodland
flower is found from Alaska to the Dakotas, south to northern
New Mexico and Baja California. Flowers late May through July.
FACTS/USES: The specific name means large-leaved. Other members
of the Geum, specifically rivaie, a northeast species,
are known for their chocolate-like beverage brewed from the rootstocks.
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 ALPINE
AVENS Geum rossii Alpine avens is a bright yellowflower
reminiscent of cinquefoil or mountain buttercups, but the grayish,
hairy leaves are pinnately divided into many narrow, irregular
segments, helping to differentiate this species. The stems, ascending
from rhizomes, rarely exceed one foot in height and bear one to
four flowers. Like most alpine plants, this species often forms
a dense cluster. HABITAT/RANGE: This plant is a dweller of moist
soils in alpine meadows and rocky crevices. It is a cordilleran
species, found from Alaska to New Mexico and Arizona, and also
inhabits Asia. Because it is an alpine species, it blooms late
in the season, from mid to late summer. FACTS/USES: As an adaptation
to its alpine environment- which includes desiccating winds and
intense solar radiation-this plant has a cover of fine gray hairs
that acts both as an insulator and a filter.
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 PRAIRIE
SMOKE Geum triflorum This plant is a tufted perennial
ascending six to 20 inches from a stout rootstock. The leaves
are mainly basal, covered with hairs and pinnately compound into
fernlike segments. The pink or reddish bell-shaped flowers usually
are borne three in a cyme and nod while in blossom. As the flowers
mature, the stems become erect and the styles elongate into feather-like
plumes. HABITAT/RANGE: This plant prefers dry to moist grasslands,
sagebrush plains to subalpine meadows. It is distributed widely
across southern Canada and the northern United States, south to
New Mexico and central California. Flowers from spring to midsummer.
FACTS/USES: The specific name means three-flowered. The common
name, prairie smoke, refers to the cluster of reddish, plumose
styles, which have the appearance of a puff of smoke. The boiled
roots produce a tonic tea.
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 OCEAN-SPRAY Hotodiscus discolor Ocean-spray is a bushy shrub
with somewhat spreading branches; it grows from two to 15 feet
in height. The stems are erect and the young twigs are finely
hairy, while the older bark is grayish-brown. The alternate leaves
are somewhat egg-shaped, with double-toothed margins. The upper
surface is dark green and slightly hairy, while the lower surface
is grayish or white-woolly. The small, numerous, cream-colored
flowers form a dense terminal cluster or panicle. This plant easily
can be confused with spireas. HABITAT/RANGE: It occupies a variety
of sites-from moist, shady forests of coastal plains to low mountains
and arid coniferous forests. It grows from British Columbia to
western Montana, south to southern California. Flowers June to
July. FACTS/USES: The specific name means two-colored or of different
colors.
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 TALL
CINQUEFOIL Potentilla arguta This is a tall-usually
more than 16 inches high-rather weedy-looking perennial herb with
somewhat sticky glandular hairs on the stem and inflorescence.
The leaves are pinnately divided into five to 11 leaflets, which
are lobed, toothed and hairy. The pale yellow, cream or white
flowers usually are crowded on a narrow cyme. While in bloom,
the petals equal or slightly exceed the length of the sepals but,
in fruit, the sepals enlarge and enclose the cluster of achenes.
HABITAT/RANGE: It grows in rich, deep loams of moist meadows,
along irrigation ditches and open hillsides, but not in alpine
areas. It occurs from Alaska to Alberta, south along the mountain
ranges to Utah and Arizona. Flowers May to July. FACTS/USES: The
specific name means sharp-toothed. Many species of cinquefoil
have been used medicinally, mainly as an astringent
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 SHRUBBY
CINQUEFOIL Potentilla fruticosa This is a diffusely
branched shrub, which generally grows one to two feet tall but
occasionally reaches five feet, under good growing conditions.
The stem is woody, twisted and tough, with silky-hairy young stems
maturing to shreddy, brown bark with age. Its leaves are grayish-green
and pinnately divided into three to seven linear, leathery leaflets
that are silky-hairy underneath. In blossom, the shrub produces
a profusion of bright yellow, saucer-shaped, half-inch- to one-inch-diameter
flowers. The seeds, or achenes, are small, numerous and densely
hairy. HABITAT/RANGE: It has a wide altitudinal range, from foothills
to subalpine slopes, but it prefers moist, cool climates. It is
distributed from Alaska to Labrador, south to New Jersey, Pennsylvania,
Minnesota, New Mexico and California, and Eurasia. Blooms through
the summer. FACTS/ USES: The specific name means shrubby or bushy.
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 SLENDER
CINQUEFOIL Potentilla gracilis Slender cinquefoil is
an erect, bushy perennial herb ascending one to two feetfrom deep,
woody taproots. The flowers are arranged in a loose, many-flowered
cyme with small, leafy bracts at the base. Each saucer-shaped
flower usually is a deep yellow, about one-quarter to one-half
inch in diameter, with 20 stamens in three rows. The leaves are
mostly basal and digitately compound usually into seven green,
toothed leaflets. There are numerous Potentilla species
and differentiation can be difficult. HABITAT/RANGE: It is common
on dry, sandy, gravelly, or clay loams of grasslands, sagebrush
deserts to moist mountain slopes at subalpine. Distributed widely
from Alaska to Saskatchewan, south to New Mexico and Baja, California,
it blooms in June and July. FACTS/ USES: The Latin generic name
is derived from potens, meaning powerful, in reference
to its medicinal properties.
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 COMMON
CHOKECHERRY Prunus virginiana Chokecherry is
a leafy shrub or small tree that can grow up to 25 feet tall.
The shiny, green leaves are elliptic, with a fine, ^ toothed margin.
Small, numerous, whitish or cream-colored flowers are clustered
in a raceme at the ends of leafy branches. The flowers later develop
into a dark purple or black, juicy, berrylike drupe. HABITAT/RANGE:
It prefers sunny, moist sites, especially along stream or river
courses, seeps, and canyons, in addition to well-drained sandy
soils of hillsides and talus slopes. It is widespread throughout
southern California and the United States. Flowers usually in
May or June and fruits in August or September. FACTS/USES: Chokecherry
is edible, but it does pucker the mouth. When ample sugar is added,
it makes delicious jellies, syrup or wine. This species is in
the cherry genus and, though the seeds are nutritious, they, like
peach pits, contain cyanogenetic poison.
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 ANTELOPE
BITTERBRUSH Purshia tridenfata This is a widely
branched, semierect, grayish-green shrub with small, bright yellow
flowers. This long-living, drought-resistant species usually is
two to six feet tall. The leaves and flowers are two identifying
characteristics: The leaves are clustered, wedge-shaped, three-toothed,
and green on the upper surface, with a grayish woolly under surface;
the flowers are solitary on short branchlets but clustered on
the outer branches. HABITAT/RANGE: This plant prefers well-drained,
sandy, gravelly soils and southern exposures of arid plains, foothills,
and mountain slopes. It is distributed widely from British Columbia
to Montana, south to New Mexico and California. Blooms May to
July. FACTS/USES: The specific name means three-toothed. The common
name is appropriate because the foliage has a very bitter taste.
It is one of the most important Western browse plants for game
animals.
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 WOOD'S
ROSE Rosa woodsii Wood's rose is an erect, trailing
or climbing shrub one to six feettall. The stems usually have
prickles and alternate leaves with flat-winged stipules. Each
leaf is pinnately compound into five or seven leaflets that are
elliptic and sawtooth-margined. The flowers-comprised of five
heart-shaped petals and numerous yellow stamens-are showy, fragrant
and red or pink in color. The fruit, or hip, is orange-red, with
long tapering sepals. HABITAT/RANGE: It is abundant in moist sites
of dry habitats, especially along riverbanks, canyons and open
woods of lowlands and foothills. It occurs from British Columbia
to Montana, south to Texas and southern California and in areas
of Wisconsin and Kansas. Flowers May into July. FACTS/USES: The
rose hips are edible and known for their concentration of vitamin
C. The hips can be eaten raw, stewed or cooked into jams and jellies,
with sugar.
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 RED
RASPBERRY Pubus idaeus Wild red raspberry is
similar to our cultivated garden variety, but smaller. This perennial
shrub is strongly armed with prickles, especially near the base
of the stem. The compound leaves have three to five sharply toothed
leaflets. The white five-petaled flowers are in terminal or axillary
clusters and mature into dark red, aggregate berries. HABITAT/RANGE:
Inhabits wet or dry woods along mountain trails and rocky slopes.
A native shrub overmuch of temperate North America and Eurasia.
Blooms May through June, and produces fruit mid-July to September.
FACTS/USES: Raspberries are excellent eaten raw or cooked into
jams or syrup. Boiling the leaves for 20 minutes can produce a
tea. The simmered roots have a number of medicinal uses-an eyewash,
a treatment for weak lungs, a general tonic, and a relief for
summer diarrhea.
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 THIMBLEBERRY Fiubusparviflorus A plant very similar to red raspberry (R. idaeus) but more robust, with large, deep-green
leaves up to 10 inches wide and three- to five-lobed. The stems
are unarmed, lacking prickles. The white flowers are cup-shaped
and mature to red aggregate berries, which taste rather dry and
insipid. HABITAT/RANGE: Thimbleberry grows in moist to dry wooded
to open sites, from sea level to the subalpine zone. It is well-distributed
throughout the West, from Alaska to the Great Lakes and south
to Montana, New Mexico and southern California. Blooms late May
to July, with berries ripening July to September. FACTS/USES:
The generic name means small-flowered. The berries are a special
favorite of wildlife. The telltale red-stained droppings left
on rocks and limbs by birds and other small animals indicate that
ripe thimbleberries are not far away.
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 MOUNTAIN
ASH Sorbus scopulina This shrub or small tree
reaches three to 15 feet in height. The leaves are large, alternate
and pinnately divided into 11 to 17 elliptic, finely serrated
leaflets. The small, cream-colored flowers are borne in terminal,
flat-topped clusters. The flowers mature by late summer or early
fall into a cluster of glossy, bright orange or scarlet berrylike
fruits, which usually persist into the winter. HABITAT/RANGE:
Mountain ash often is found in moist soils of canyons and mountain
hillsides. It is distributed from Alaska to western Alberta, south
to the Dakotas, Wyoming, New Mexico and northern California. Flowers
from May until early July. FACTS/USES: The specific name means
of the rocks, referring to its habit of establishing in rocky
canyons and hillsides. The bitter berries are edible raw, cooked
or dried, but are a bigger attractant for birds- especially cedar
waxwings-than for humans.
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 SHINY-LEAF
SPIREA Spires betulifolia Shiny-leafspireaisadeciduous,
erectshrut), onetothreefeet tall, arising from creeping rootstocks.
It has rather oblong, birch-like leaves. The flowers are very
small, less than one-eighth-inch long, with five sepals and five
petals, and numerous protruding stamens. The white or pinkish-tinged
flowers are densely arranged on a showy, flat-topped corymb. HABITAT/RANGE:
This plant prefers deep, fertile and moist soils of open hillsides
to dry woods. It occurs from British Columbia to Saskatchewan,
South Dakota, Wyoming to Oregon, and also is found in Asia. Blooms
early summer to midsummer. FACTS/USES: The generic name is derived
from the Greek word speira, meaning spiral or coil, which
may refer to the spirally twisted seed pods. The specific name
means birch-leaved.
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 SUBALPINE
SPIREA Spirea dens/flora This is a low plant that grows
up to three feet tall and is branched with dark, red-brown bark.
It is distinguished easily by its dense cluster of tiny, red or
pinkish flowers arranged in a flat-topped corymb. The leaves are
elliptic, toothed, bright green on the upper surface and slightly
puberulent on the lower surface. The fruit is a cluster of five
seed pods (follicles) containing several small seeds. HABITAT/RANGE:
As the common name implies, this species is a dweller of subalpine
zones. It prefers rocky sites and often can be found growing in
the soil-filled cracks of rocks. It is found from southern British
Columbia to Montana, Wyoming and central California. Flowers early
to midsummer. FACTS/USES: The specific name means densely flowered.
Spireas have a reputed medicinal use as a general tonic made by
brewing a tea from the stem, leaves or flowers. |
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