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SAXIFRAGE FAMILY (SAXIFRAGACEAE).

In Mt. Rainier National Park this family is well represented by many common plants. It is also of significance here inasmuch as the genus Ribes (currants and gooseberries) is the alternate host for the White Pine blister rust which has done considerable damage to the park's white pine stands. The various members of the family vary greatly in their characters but in most cases each species will have a 5-lobed calyx, 5 petals and either 5 or 10 stamens. A field key to the 13 native genera of this family follows:

Golden saxifrage (Chrysosplenium glechomaefolium). This is a small perennial with small succulent leaves that grows in moist places at low elevations in the park. The stem is sometimes creeping and rooting at the joints or nodes with ascending, flower-bearing branches 2-4 inches high. The flowers are small and inconspicuous, have no petals and are borne solitary in the leaf axils. The leaves, upon flower-bearing branches, are alternate - on non-flower bearing branches, opposite - and are short petioled, almost round (1/4-3/4 inch wide), and with wavy margins.

Grass of Parnassus (Parnassia fimbriata). This is a fairly common succulent plant found in moist to wet locations, generally along small streams, in the Hudsonian zone. The rather attractive flowers, 1/2-3/4 inch in diameter are white, veined with yellow or light green and are borne at the top of a slender, erect succulent stalk from 6-12 inches tall. The flower-bearing stem is naked with the exception of a single scale-like leaf which is sometimes present. The succulent leaves are kidney shaped in outline, about 1 - 1-1/2 inches broad and are in a cluster at the base of the flower stalk.

Tolmie's Saxifrage (Saxifraga tolmiei). A very common and attractive plant characteristic of rather barren locations in the Hudsonian and lower Arctic-alpine zones. The flowers are white and star-like, small and borne singly or in cymes upon short, tufted, branched, leafy stems (leaves at base of stems), 2-4 inches tall. The leaves are crowded, rather succulent, spatulate in outline, small (1/8-1/4 inch long) and evergreen. This plant is named from Dr. Wm. Fraser Tolmie who first collected the plant, presumably in Mt. Rainier National Park on the occasion of his "botanizing expedition" to the northwest corner of this area in 1833.

Alpine Saxifrage (Saxifraga bronchialis var. austromontana). A very common plant in the rocky cliffs of the Hudsonian and lower Arctic-alpine zones. It is densely tufted with erect flower stems from 2-6 inches tall bearing small white star-like flowers (less than 1/4 inch in diameter) in cymes at the top of the stems. The white petals sometimes have brown spots. The leaves are densely clustered at the base of the flower stems (though a few lanceolate, scale-like leaves are found upon the otherwise naked elongated flower stems) are lanceolate in outline, acute at the tip, have ciliate margins, are evergreen and are somewhat leathery.

Saxifrage (Saxifraga bronchialis var. vespertina). This species, so far as is known, has no common name. As the scientific name indicates it closely resembles the Alpine Saxifrage. It grows on rocky cliffs in the upper Canadian and lower Hudsonian zones. The leaves are oblong to spatulate in outline, obtuse at the tip and with the ciliate margins more evident. The leaves are evergreen but more succulent than coriaceous. The flowers are larger (about 1/4 inch in diameter) with the brown spots upon the white petals quite conspicuous and the cymes are loose. It is a much more attractive plant than the Alpine Saxifrage though unfortunately not nearly so common.

Saxifrage (Saxifraga cespitosa). A plant of rocky cliffs of the Arctic-alpine zone. It is densely tufted, 2-3 inches tall with small, densely crowded thin, three-lobed leaves. The flower bearing stems are naked with the exception of a few leafy bracts, The flowers are white.

Opposite-leaved Saxifrage (Saxifraga oppositifolia). As the name indicates the small leaves of this plant are opposite, the pairs of leaves being densely crowded along the entire stem. There is no long naked flower-bearing stalk and the small, purple flowers are borne solitary at the apex of the leafy stems. It is a small plant (rarely more than 2 inches tall) of rocky locations in the Arctic-alpine zone.

Saxifrage (Saxifraga arguta). A common species found in wet locations, generally along streams or upon mossy cliffs from 2000-5000 feet. The leaves are all basal, succulent, with long stems, are broader than long (1-1/2 - 2-1/2" wide and 1 - 1-1/2" long) and with the margins evenly dentate with coarse teeth. The flower stem is slender, leafless, 6-10 inches tall and bears numerous white flowers in a cymose panicle. The petals of the flowers are circular in outline.

Saxifrage (Saxifraga aestivalis). This plant is so very similar to the foregoing species that it is difficult to distinguish it from the above in the field without a hand lens. The principal field distinction between the two species is that the petals of the flowers of this species are oblong rather than circular in outline. It is also found at slightly higher elevations, being most common along streams in the Hudsonian zone.

Saxifrage (Saxifraga ferrugina). A fairly common plant along streams from 2500-6000 feet. It grows to be 2-12 inches tall with the spatulate leaves, toothed above the middle, in a rosette at the base of the erect, slender, leafless flower stem. The leaves are from 1/2-2 inches long, narrowing to a broad, short petiole. The flowers are numerous, white and in a cymose panicle. Saxifraga debilis has 5-lobed leaves and Saxifraga mertensiana has leaves that are doubly toothed.

Fringe Cup (Tellima grandiflora). The common name of this plant indicates the general appearance of the flowers, the green calyx of which is bell-like with small white petals protruding which, gives the flower a "fringed" appearance. The leaves are largely basal, round in outline and heart-shaped at the base, with the margins shallowly lobed and the lobes, in turn, toothed. Basal leaves are borne upon rather long, slender stems.

The flower stems are erect, 6-12 inches tall, slender and, with the exception of two or three sessile leaves, naked; bearing the flowers in a compact raceme which is usually one sided. The entire plant - stems and leaves - is sparsely covered with short hairs. It is a common plant of the moist woods of the Canadian zone.

Youth-on-age (Tolmiea menziesii). This is a common plant of moist woods in the Canadian zone and owes its common name to its habit of sprouting new growth from buds at the tip of many of the leaf stalks. The entire plant is sparsely hairy. The basal leaves have long slender stems, are heart-shaped at the base, ovate in outline with 5-7 shallow lobes (the edges of which are toothed) and are from 2-3 inches wide and 3-4 inches long Leaves upon the flower stalk are alternate and shorter stemmed. The flower stem is 10-24 inches tall with the flowers borne in a raceme near the top; the flowers being short stemmed with the dark calyx and white petals funnel-shaped in outline.

Bishop's Cap (Mitella pontandra). A common plant of the moist woods of the Canadian zone. It is 4-inches tall and is lightly covered with short hairs throughout. Leaves are all basal, round in outline and heart shaped at the base, the margins with rounded teeth. The flowers are in a loose raceme, flattish or saucer-like with the petals finely divided into thread-like lobes.

Mitrewort (Mitella caulescens). Also common in the moist woods of the 10-25 inches tall and resembles the Bishop's Cap except for the fact that the flower-bearing stem has 1-3 short stemmed leaves. The flowers are greenish.

Brewer's Mitrewort (Mitella breweri). Leaves all basal, shiny green upon the upper side and kidney-shaped to round with numerous rounded teeth along the margin. Found from 2000-5500 feet.

Mitrewort (Mitella trifida). The leaves of this plant are all basal and have slender and conspicuously hairy stems. Leaves are kidney-shaped to heart-shaped with the margins having numerous small teeth. Flower stems from 6-10 inches tall. Not common.

Coolwort (Tiarella sp.). Both species of this genus which are found in this area are characteristic of the moist places in the wooded Canadian zone. They are slender herbs, 6-15 inches tall, with small white flowers borne in panicles. Tiarella unifoliata has lobed leaves while Tiarella trifoliata has the leaves divided into three leaflets.

Leptarrhena (Leptarrhena amplexifolia). Found along streams in the Hudsonian zone, leaves are largely basal, oblong to obovate and coarsely toothed above the middle, thick and leathery, glossy green above and light green below. The flower bearing stem is 6-12 inches tall, has one or two small sessile leaves and bears the small white flowers in a panicle.

Heuchera (Heuchera micrantha). A very common plant of the Canadian zone in moist places, being particularly noticeable upon moist cliffs. The leaves are mostly basal, round to slightly oblong and heart-shaped at the base, the margins lobed and the lobes toothed. The leaves are 1 - 2-1/2 inches wide and have slender stems that are covered with short reddish hairs. The white flowers are in a loose panicle borne upon a stem from 12-24 inches tall.

Heuchera (Heuchera glabra). Resembles the above except that the lobes are triangular in outline rather than rounded and the stems are not hairy. It is also somewhat smaller.

Alum Root (Heuchera racemosa). A plant common on moist rocks particularly in the Hudsonian zone. It has slightly hairy basal leaves that are broader than long and heart-shaped at the base, with the margins slightly lobed and with rounded teeth. The leaves have long stems. The flowers are in a raceme, white and bell shaped.

Two other genera - Boykinia and Suksdorfia are represented in the park by only one are common and may be identified from the generic field key found upon page 74.

Syringa (Philadelphus lewisii). A woody shrub from 4-10 feet tall, much branched and with pale brown, flaky bark and ovate opposite leaves. The margins of the leaves have a few teeth. The flowers are white and showy. It is an occasional plant in the upper Canadian zone.

Currants and Gooseberries (Ribes sp.). This is a very important genus of plants in the Saxifrage family. All are shrubs and some have prickly or thorny stems. The leaves are alternate and sometimes fascicled (tufted), and are palmately veined or lobed. The flowers are small, solitary, or in racemes, and variously colored, end the berry is round, fleshy, and usually possessed of many seeds. Plants of this group are of particular importance in this national park, as they are elsewhere in the northwest, in that they serve as the alternate host for the White Pine Blister Rust which does considerable damage to local five needled pines.

Swamp Currant (Ribes lacustre). This plant has a stout woody stem 3-6 feet tall with 3-5 branched spines and numerous prickles. The leaves are from 1-2 inches wide and about as long as wide, 5 lobed with the margins of the lobes toothed. The flowers are small saucer-like, greenish to purplish and in loose drooping racemes. The berries are black and glandular. It is common at low elevations in the park.

Stink Currant (Ribes bracteosum). This has stout stems, 3-6 feet tall, without spines or prickles. The leaves are very large (6-8 inches wide) and about as wide as long; heart-shaped at the base, and with 5-7 prominent triangular-shaped lobes, the margins of which are toothed. The flowers are numerous, green, saucer-shaped, and borne in erect racemes 4-8 inches long. The fruit is black and dotted with resin. It is a common low elevation currant in the park.

Mountain Currant (Ribes howellii). Common in the Hudsonian zone from 4500-6500 feet in elevation. It is shrubby with woody stems 3-6 feet tall but the stout stems have no spines or prickles. The leaves are about 2 inches across and about as broad as long with 3-5 prominent lobes having numerous rounded teeth. The flowers are greenish saucer-shaped in drooping racemes. The black fruit is not edible.

Squaw Currant (Ribes viscosissimum). A shrubby plant about 3 feet tall without prickles. It is somewhat hairy, especially upon new growth. Leaves 1-2 inches across with 3-5 rounded lobes whose margins are toothed. The flowers are small, white and in racemes and the berry is black. It is not common being found only at low elevations in the White River area up to 4000 feet.

Currant (Ribes laxiflorum). Grows from 3-6 feet tall and has no spines or thorns. The leaves are 5-7 lobed with the lobes triangular in outline, their margins toothed. The flowers are in erect racemes and saucer shaped. The fruit is black.

Red-flowering Currant (Ribes sanguineum). A very showy plant of the low elevations in early summer. Grows from 3-8 feet tall and has tubular pink to red flowers in drooping racemes. The leaves are nearly round in outline, 1-3 inches wide and with 3-5 rounded lobes whose margins are toothed. It has no prickles and the berry is black.

Wild Gooseberry (Ribes divaricatum). The stout stems of this plant are armed with numerous prickles and stout spines. The leaves are 1 - 1-1/2 inches across and about as broad as long with 3-5 lobes, the margins of which are toothed. The leaves ere also somewhat hairy upon the underside. The white flowers are few in number and the berry is black.

Gummy Gooseberry (Ribes lobii). The stout branches of this plant have spines but not bristles. The leaves are small - about 1/2-3/4 inches across, end about as broad as long. The leaves are also heart-shaped at the base and have 3-5 lobes the margins of: which are toothed. The flowers are solitary or in threes, drooping and purple-red. The berries are large, gummy and covered with stalked glands.

Gooseberry (Ribes watsonianum). This shrub grows 3-5 feet high and has straw colored spines at the nodes only. Leaves are 1 - 1-1/2 inches wide, 3-5 lobed with margins of lobes deeply toothed. Flowers inconspicuous, in clusters of 1-3 and the fruits are covered with straw-colored spines.

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Descriptions continued...