FLORA OF MOl M' i:\imm: NATIONA] PAHK. 35 



reeembling the common dandelion. The potontilla, PotentiUa flabel- 

 •, is a common buttercup-like planl alreadj referred to. There 

 are two «>r three species of arnicas, which maj be known l>\ then' 

 opposite cordate or ovate leaves and rather large heads of yellow 

 Bom era. One species, Arnica parryi, has its heads entirely rayless and 

 usually solitary. It therefore takes little part in the color scheme. 

 S triangularis may be known by its rather tall stem, Bmall 



heads, and triangular dentate leaves. It requires plentj of moisture 

 ami i< found near streams and springs. It ranges from Longmire 

 Springs i<> the "Camp of the Clouds." 



Tin 1 pentstemons, epilobiums, asters, erigerons, claytonias, etc., 

 contribute pink and purple in over varying shades, making the har- 

 mony complete. 



The tree groups among these flower beds are composed largely of 

 the alpine lir. alpine hemlock, Alaska cedar, and the white-barked 

 pine, /' i- dlbieaulis. This pine is rare on the south side, hut is 

 common on the north and east Bides of the mountain. The same is 

 true of an alpine form of the tideland spruce. These trees are pecu- 

 liar in that their trunks rise up like spires while their short branches 

 are bent downward by the weight of the snow. In the Qerce struggle 

 for existence their wood has been strengthened to a remarkable 

 • as compared with wood of trees at sea level. Many of the 

 shorter trees remain buried for month- in snowdrifts 1 •"> to 20 feet in 

 depth. It i- not strange that such tree- should have a gnarled and 

 distorted appearance even at an altitude of 5,500 feet. Between 

 this altitude and 6.500 feet there i- a marked change to smaller 

 plants, steeper slopes and poorer soil, hut no diminution in color. 

 In fact, the color scheme i- intensified, and many of the most beautiful 

 flower beds are found about 6.000 feet or a little above. 



Phlox diffusa fig. _' s I is here arrayed in large masses of lavender 



flowers changing to white as they become older. The painted cup- here 



vary from red to crimson and sometimes even to purple. There are 



three <>r four different species of them in these flower beds, i 'astiTL ia 



tfa i- known by it- entire lanceolate leaves. The other species 



- milar to each other and are known only to botanists. Cusick's 



IweU which, in r id /.one wa- -aid to be partially hidden 



under the Larger plants - seen to better advantage here and often 



forms beautiful blue patches to the exclusion of other plants. 



gentian, Gentiana calycosa fig. 29), with its large funnel- 

 form flowers and ■■ sessile ovate leaves, grows here in moisl 

 places. Itiso of the most admired of the blue flowers found on the 

 mountain. I that i> attracted the trained eye of Dr. 

 Tolmi first botanist to vi-it tin- mountain. It was named from 

 fleeted by him near the Puyallup Glacier in 1837. I' i- 



