608 
THE NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC MAGAZINE 
grow older. The centers are full of long 
yellow stamens. 
The anemone is especially deficient in 
perfume, a common failure with the 
mountain flora. Though the plant ends 
its blossom season early, its seed pods 
are covered with a spectacular flume of 
light brownish gray that attracts atten- 
tion to the end of summer (see pages 
612 and 613). 
Mountain rhododendron — Albiflontin. 
How flowers derive common names is 
not always traceable ; the mountain peo- 
ple took to calling this the snow brush. 
Its waxy one-petal bell flowers of cream 
white, about three-quarters of an inch 
wide, are very delicately fastened close 
to the stock, tucked away under its can- 
opy of glossy light green leaves. Flow- 
ers are easily shattered from the stock, 
but for further protection nature seems 
to have planted this shrub generally in 
the shelter of other woods. The sta- 
mens and pistels are of same tint as the 
petal ; the odor is slightly unpleasant. 
This plant deserves much attention as a 
flowering bush (see page 610). 
Basket grass flower, or mountain lily — 
Xerophyllinn tenax. The Indians dig up 
this plant, bleach its long fibrous leaves, 
dry them and weave them into small bas- 
kets, cups, and ornaments. Some people 
call it squaw grass. At 4,000 feet alti- 
tude, scattered over thickly wooden 
slopes, this evergreen bunch grasslike 
plant grows most thrifty. After several 
years a number of stocks shoot up from 
one set of bulbs ; after then the plant 
rests a few seasons. 
In t>he more abundant places the stock 
grows three to four feet tall, covered 
with its hundreds of tubelike flowers 
of waxy cream tint, almost white. This 
is the most spectacular flower of the 
mountain. It grows prettiest at an alti- 
tude of over 5,000 feet, where it has 
shorter stem and better form, but is very 
scarce. The stock then assumes a wine- 
color ti-nt on sunny side. On close ex- 
amination as well as at a distance, this 
plant is always a winner (see pages 606 
and 6og), 
Gentian — Gentiana calycoso. If there 
is a favorite blue flower in the Rainier 
Park, it is the gentian — blue, blue. blue. 
It comes to full bloom about the last of 
August. It is not of great abundance, 
but is a plenty, and often puts forth 15 
to 20 flower stocks in one bunch. The 
stems are about eight inches long, but; 
like all plants it varies in size according 
to surrounding conditions. 
The color is light cobalt at the top 
ends, the petal grading to deep purple 
blue toward the stems, which are often 
green, but usually of a dark wine color. 
The ends of the green leaves are also 
tinted the same as the stem, completing- 
a scheme of wonderful color harmony. 
Partly hidden by other herbage, this 
flower is not conspicuous and sleeps late, 
opening in full only during the heat and 
light of day, but its season lingers on 
through the first light frosts. 
Castellira areopala. Indian'pink paint- 
brush, painted cup, are the common 
names of this wonderful, showy plant. 
While its perfume is scarcely noticeable, 
it is undoubtedly the most conspicuous 
of the park flora. Abundantly scattered 
over the meadows and slopes in separate 
clusters and thick patches, this species, 
in its deep magenta red, displays won- 
derful contrast to the rich greens. It 
varies some in lighter tints of the same 
pigment ; some flowers are of scarlet, and 
rarely is seen a freak nearly white. The 
flowers flash into full bloom all about 
the same time and hold out fairly well 
to the middle of August. It appears best 
at short distance and coarse on close 
examination, but with nearly every one 
this flower lists with the favorites. 
The few flowers described are but a- 
mere introduction to the subject. Na- 
ture was bountiful and gave Rainier 
Park many kinds and colors. The ava- 
lanche or deer-tongue lily — Brythroniiim 
montaniim — ranks among the best and 
most showy (see pages 616-617). It 
comes very early and in abundance. Fol- 
lowing its season comes the light rose- 
colored mimulus, growing always close 
along the ice-cold streams. 
The delicately scented valerian, scat- 
tered over knoll and slope, can be seen 
for some distance. The heads, on stalks 
two feet or more in length, are made up 
of many flowers of pure white (see- 
page 611). The mountain phlox, grow- 
