30 



FLORA OF MOUNT RAINIER NATIONAL PARK. 



creamy yellow flowers and ovate to lanceolate opposite leaves on a 

 rather tall stem. 



The mountain dock, Polygonum bislortoides (fig. 27), may be known 

 by its lanceolate radical leaves and rather long, slender stem, bearing 

 an oblong spike of small white flowers. This plant is very abundant 



Fig. 23. — Mertmsia laevigata. 



Color of flower, blue to pinkish blue; height of plant, 2 feet; blooms July and August. 

 Photograph by A. H. Barnes. 



and is easily swayed about by the wind, thus trying the patience of 

 the flower photographer. It is nearly always associated with the 

 valerian and the asters. There are several plants of the parsley 

 family which may be recognized by their umbels of white or purplish- 

 white flowers. The ' 'wild parsnip," Ligusticum purpureum, has finely 

 dissected leaves and small whitish purple flowers. The mountain ash, 



