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BARBERRY FAMILY (BERBERIDACEAE).
(1) Sweet-after-death (Achlys triphylla). (2) Oregon Grape (Berberis nervosa).
FUMITORY FAMILY (FUMARIACEAE).
(3) Pink Corydalis (Corydalis scouleri).

BARBERRY FAMILY (BERBERIDACEAE).

Sweet-after-death (Achlys triphylla). This is a very common plant of the deep coniferous forests where it often forms large patches. It grows to a height of from 1-2 feet. The slender erect flower and leaf stems arise separately from creeping root stalks. The leaves are compound with three spreading fan-shaped leaflets whose outer margin is coarsely wavy. The small white flowers are borne at the top of the slender flower stalk in a compact spike. The common name is derived from the peculiar vanilla-like odor of the leaves after drying and this also accounts for another common name - Vanilla Leaf. (See illustration on page 69).

Barren Wort (Vancouveria hexandra). An uncommon plant about 12-18 inches tall with leaves compounded three times. Leaflets three lobed and about 3/4-2 inches long and 1 inch wide. The small white flowers are borne in racemes or panicles.

BIRTHWORT FAMILY (ARISTOLOCHIACEAE).

Oregon Grape (Berberis nervosa). A very common plant of the lower elevations the park with compound leaves 8-16 inches long, leaflets oblong in outline and with the spiny teeth giving the plant a "holly-like" appearance. The numerous yellow flowers are borne in racemes. The fruit is a deep blue-black fleshy berry. (See illustration on page 69). Another species - Berberis aquifolium - is not so common. It is similar except for its larger size, as it grows to be 3-4 feet tall. Its berries are often pear-shaped.

FUMITORY FAMILY (FUMARIACEAE).

Pink Corydalis (Corydalis scouleri). A very common plant of moist places in the deep woods to a height of 3-4 feet often forming compact patches. It is a succulent plant with large pinnately decompound leaves, the segments rounded and sometimes lobed. The 1-spurred pink flowers are borne in a terminal raceme. (See illustration on page 69).

Bleeding Heart (Dicentra formosa). An uncommon plant of the moist locations in the deep woods. The leaves are 2-3 compound with the segments deeply cut into narrow lobes. The flowers are in panicles and have two spurs.

MUSTARD FAMILY (CRUCIFERAE).

This family is characterized. by plants having alternate leaves and flowers with four petals and sepals which, because of the fact that their arrangement is somewhat in the form of a cross, accounts for the family name - Cruciferae. The fruit is a pod of varying shape and size but upon maturity, in most cases at least, the sides of the pod open up to expose a central partition upon both sides of which the seeds are attached. Many of the species of this family are also characterized. by pungent juice. In addition to many troublesome weeds, some of our most valuable garden plants are members of the mustard family such as the radish, cabbage and cauliflower. A field. key to the various genera native to Mt. Rainier National Park follows:

Mountain Wallflower (Erysimum torulosum). This is a plant of dry rocky locations of the upper Hudsonian and lower Arctic alpine zones that can be readily recognized by the dense raceme of bright yellow flowers. It is from 4-12 inches tall with a stout, erect stem covered with short grey hairs. The leaves are narrow, linear to spatulate, and toothed. The pod is linear and somewhat 4-angled.

Alpine Penny Cress (Thlaspi glaucum). This perennial is found in rocky soils between 5000 and 7000 feet. It is a tufted plant with slender stems, 4-12 inches tall upon which are racemes of small white flowers. The leaves are mostly basal, in which case they are obcordate in outline and slightly toothed and tapering to a slender petiole at the base. The stem leaves are linear in outline, sessile and have two ear-like lobes at the base. The seed pods are obovate in outline, 1/4 inch or less long upon slender stems.

Penny Cress (Thlaspi arvense). An annual weed plant of waste places at lower elevations such as along roadsides etc. The plant is larger, the seed pods are larger and winged - otherwise this species closely resembles the above.

Willow Grass (Draba aureola). A plant of very high elevations - from 6000 to 9000 feet - in this park, growing in the loose pumice or rocky soils. It is not over 6 inches tall and is densely leafy with a compact raceme of yellow flowers. Basal leaves are oblanceolate, entire, obtuse and about 1/2 inch long. The fact that they are somewhat like the leaves of a willow in appearance accounts for the common name of this plant. The entire plant is covered with short white hairs. The seed pods are 1/4-1/2 inch long and oblong in outline.

Draba (Draba oligosperma). A diminutive, densely tufted perennial with small linear leaves (not over 1/4 inch long) crowded at the base of the several flower stems arising from the tuft. Flower stems slender, about 2 inches tall, bearing small pale yellow flowers. In dry rocky soils from 8000-10000 feet. Another species (Draba lochocarpa) has white flowers. It is a slender tufted plant of rocky situations from 5000 to 6500 feet.

Rock Cress (Arabis sp.). This group of plants, of which there are six species in the park, may be generally characterized by their erect form with mostly basal leaves. Stem leaves are sessile, clasping and possessed of two ear-like lobes at the base. All leaves are simple, seldom divided. The flowers are white to purple and the pods are long and linear. Various members of this group are found at different altitudes but the two most common species are characteristic of the Hudsonian and lower Arctic-alpine zone. Arabis drummondii is from 12-30 inches tall with lanceolate, clasping stem eaves and spatulate basal leaves. The pods are 2-2 1/2 inches long, linear and erect; seeds are winged. This plant may be found in the park from 3000 to 5000 feet.

Arabis lyallii is a much smaller plant, characteristic of the Hudsonian zone, which has deep purple flowers. It is from 2-6 inches tall. The other four species will not be generally encountered by the average park visitor and are not described here for that reason. (See check list on page 24).

Shepherd's Purse (Capsella bursa-pastoris). This is a weed plant common in waste places such as in poor soils bordering highways. It is from 12 - 24 inches tall, loosely tufted with several slender stems bearing loose racemes of small white flowers. The basal leaves are in a rosette, lanceolate to oblanceolate in outline and toothed. Stem leaves lanceolate to spatulate in outline and sessile. The seed pods are triangular, with long stems, and a notch at the apex.

Peppergrass (Lepidium campestre). A tall erect plant, 12-20 inches high with several erect branches bearing loose raceme of small white flowers. Stems leafy. Leaves broadly linear to oblong in outline, edges slightly toothed, sessile and with base of each leaf having two conspicuous ear-like lobes. The seed pods are ovate in outline.

Smelowskia (Smelowskia ovalis). One of the common plants of dry rocky situations at high elevations, from 6000-9000 ft. It can be readily recognized by the tufted, matted habit, the finely divided grey-green leaves and small white flowers which are borne in racemes. It grows to a height of from 2-6 inches from a stout root. The Dwarf Smelowskia (Smelowskia calycina) is similar to the above in most respects except for the fact that it is much smaller. It is characteristic of the Arctic-alpine zone from 6000-10,000 ft. in elevation.

Bitter Cress (Cardamine sp.). These are succulent perennials which are characteristic of shaded moist to wet situations. They have erect stems bearing small white flowers in a raceme. The leaves may be entire but are generally lobed or divided. Seven species are native to the park. None of these may be regarded as very common. In the case of Cardamine bellidifolia the leaves are all simple and entire. Cardamine breweri has only the basal leaves simple; the balance divided into 3-5 leaflets.

Cardamine gulata has all leaves 3-foliate (with three leaflets), the margin of each leaflet being characterized by 3-5 coarse teeth. Cardamine oligosperma, Cardamine pennsylsvanica, Cardamine kamtschatica and Cardamine occidentalis all have leaves divided into from 3-13 leaflets but differ in minor botanical respects. These latter species are not common and, therefore, are not fully described.

Toothwort (Dentaria tenella). An uncommon plant of the moist shaded woods. It is from 4-14 inches high with a raceme of rose-purple flowers.

Yellow Cress (Rorippa curvisiliqua). A rather tall weedy plant with much branched stems, yellow flowers and pinnately lobed leaves.

Winter Cress (Barbarea orthoceras). A succulent perennial having angled stems and yellow flowers.

Sisymbrium (Sisymbrium sp.). Much branched weed plants of poor dry soils. are slightly hairy with finely dissected leaves and yellow flowers. There are three native species. (See check list on page 24).

SUNDEW FAMILY (DROSERACEAE).

Sundew (Drosera rotundifolia). This species is the local representative of a small but very interesting family of insectivorous plants. It is found in boggy soils, such as in the Longmire swamp where it is quite common. The leaves are in a rosette upon the boggy soil, round in outline but narrowed abruptly at the base to form a long stem. The leaf margins are characterized. by the presence of numerous sensitive, sticky, glandular hairs which serve to entrap small insects. The small white flowers are borne in a loose raceme. The fruit is an oblong capsule.

STONECROP FAMILY (CRASSULACEAE).

Stonecrop (Sedum divergens). This plant may be readily recognized by its succulent, fleshy appearance, and its bright yellow flowers. The leaves are very thick, fleshy, oval in outline, sessile on the stem and about 1/4 inch long. The bright yellow flowers are borne in a compact cyme. It is generally found upon rocks. A second species Sedum oreganum has flattened leaves and a third species Sedum integrifolium grows in the Hudsonian zone and has reddish-purple flowers. The first species is quite common but the latter two are rather rare in the park.

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Descriptions continued...