-oOo-
BROOMRAPE FAMILY (OROBANCHACEAE).
Broomrape (Orobanche uniflora var. minuta). Not likely
to be encountered. A yellowish parasitic herb.
BLADDERWORT FAMILY
(LENTIBULARIACEAE).
Butterwort (Pinguicula vulgaris). This plant is
occasionally found on moist banks or rocks in the upper Canadian zone.
It may be generally found in the vicinity of Comet Falls. On first
glance it has a superficial resemblance to a violet but upon closer
examination the dissimilarities can be readily seen. The leaves are
basal, broad, entire, soft and somewhat fleshy and the naked, succulent
flower stalks, 4-5 inches tall, bear at their apex a single flower, a
violet blue in color, conical in outline - the lower lip longer than the
upper, and with a distinct spur in back.
PLANTAIN FAMILY (PLANTAGINACEAE).
Common Plantain (Plantago major). A wood with which
most people are familiar. It has broadly ovate leaves 1-5 inches long
(with 3-5 prominent ribs) that are arranged in a cluster or rosette
upon the ground. The small flowers are in compact terminal spikes upon
erect leafless flower stalks 4-10 inches tall.
Lance-leaved Plantain (Plantago lanceolata). The leaves
are in a rosette or tuft upon the ground, 1-10 inches long, with 3-5
prominent ribs, lanceolate in outline and narrowing at the base to a
rather broad leaf stalk. The plant is white-woolly at base of the leaf
stalk. The small flowers are in terminal spikes upon erect, leafless
stalks 4-10 inches tall.
MADDER FAMILY (RUBIACEAE).
Bedstraw (Galium sp.). While there are four species of
this genus native to the park a general description will suffice for the
group. They have slender, weak, either erect or prostrate stems that are
somewhat 4-angled with linear to oblong leaves, 1/2-3/4 of an inch long,
borne in whorls (usually 4 leaves per whorl). The flowers are small,
white and borne in cymes. These plants have a variety of habitat - from
dry gravelly soils to moist locations in the deep woods and may be found
up to 5000 foot. See check list on page 34 for enumeratian of
species.
VALERIAN FAMILY (VALERIANACEAE).
Valerian (Valeriana sitchensis). One of the most common
plants in the Hudsonian meadows. It is from 18-36 inches tall with small
white to pinkish funnel-shaped flowers in dense terminal umbels. The
leaves are 3-foliate (basal occasionally simple) with leaflets ovate
in outline, 1/2-2 inches long, and the margins toothed.
BELLFLOWER FAMILY (CAMPANULACEAE).
Bluebell (Campanula rotundifolia). This plant, most
common on dry banks or hillsides or in rocky locations, is easily
recognized by pale blue, nodding, bell-like flowers about 3/4 of an inch
long. The slender, erect and generally simple stems (occasionally
branched at the very base) are from 4-14 inches tall. Leaves of two
types - basal leaves broadly ovate to nearly circular in outline with
slender leaf stems; the upper leaves long and linear and stemless, 3/4-3
inches long. The bell-like flowers are generally solitary but sometimes
in a loose racemes.
Bellflower (Campanula scouleri). This plant grows 6-12
inches tall, the stem often branched. Leaves are ovate to
ovate-lanceolate in outline, tapering toward the tip and base and have
the margins toothed. The pale blue bell-like to funnel shaped flowers,
1/4-1/2 inch long, are borne in a raceme.
HONEYSUCKLE FAMILY (CAPRIFOLIACEAE).
Red Elder (Sambucus callicarpa). A very common and
attractive bushy shrub of the Canadian zone. It grows to be 6-15 feet
tall with opposite, pinnately compound leaves; leaflets 5-7 in number,
2-4 inches long, oblong-lanceolate in outline, acute and with the
margins toothed. The numerous small white flowers are borne in pyramidal
panicles or clusters and the berries, which are very showy late in the
summer, are a brilliant crimson.
Blue Elder (Sambucus glauca). Also tall and bushy but
not as common in the park as the Red Elder. It differs from the Red
Elder in that the flower clusters are flat-topped rather than pyramidal
and also in the fact that the berries are blue instead of red.
Snowberry (Symphoricarpos mollis). A weak-stemmed shrub
1-6 feet long with oblong to oval opposite leaves (occasionally lobed
but usually entire), 1/2-3/4 of an inch long. The flowers are small,
pink and bell-like, and in clusters of 1-6. The berries are white, which
accounts for the common name. This plant is not common.
Squashberry (Viburnum pauciflorum). A shrub 3-6 feet
tall with ovate to nearly circular leaves that are mostly 3-lobed and
hairy beneath. The flowers are small, white and in flat clusters. The
berry is red. This plant may be found in wet situations but is rare in
the park.
Twinflower (Linnaea borealis var. longiflora). This is
one of the most common plants of the deep woods of the Canadian zone and,
as the common name indicates, the small pink, tubular, pendant flowers
are borne in pairs at the apex of slender erect stems. The plant is
prostrate upon the ground, often covering rocks, rotting logs etc. upon
the forest floor, the plant stem having numerous erect side branches
which bear leaves and flowers. Leaves are evergreen, small, obovate in
outline, obtuse and have several rounded teeth at the top. They are from
1/4-1/2 inch long. The flowers have a very delicate odor.
Honeysuckle (Lonicera involucrate). A shrub 3-6 feet
tall that is found in moist locations the lower altitudes. The leaves
are 2-4 inches long, oblong to ovate and opposite. The yellow tubular
flowers, about 1/2 inch or less long, are borne in pairs upon a slender
stem arising from the axils of the leaves; flowers in pairs, each pair
surrounded by a group of bracts at the base. The fruit is a
blackberry.
Climbing Honeysuckle (Lonicera ciliata). Also found in
wet places at the lower elevations of the park. It is a climbing plant
with weak twining stems. The leaves are oval in outline, opposite 1 -
2-1/2 inches long with the uppermost pairs united into round disks. The
yellow to orange tubular flowers are in whorls and the fruit is an
orange berry.
-oOo-
Descriptions continued...