

IT Ml RES OF rHE FLORA OF MOUNT RAINIEB NATIONAL PARK. 



\\\ J. B. Fi n i 



GENERAL STATEMENT. 



Iii a general treatment «>f the flora of Mount Rainier National Park 

 we must hear in mind the fact that the mountain is Located near the 

 center of the park and that the park extends down into the dense 

 ■. thus giving a varied and extensivo flora. 



For convenience the park may be divided into five /.cue-: 



1. The Lower area near the boundary, between elevations of 2,000 

 and 2,800 feet, is composed of wide river valleys covered with large 

 tree- around which are woven masses of moss, liverworts, lichen-. 

 and fern-. These plants also form a beautiful cover For the forest 



2. The upper forest region between elevations of 2,800 and i.niin 

 feet i- characterized by tree- covered with gray banging form- of 

 lichen-, smaller tree-, and a gradual transition to alpine types. 



Between 1,000 and 5,500 feet tree- are found in groups distinctly 

 alpine alternating with grassj meadows. 



4. From 5,500 feet to timber Line. 



5. Rocky ridges and pumice fields above timber Line. 



THE FIRST ZONE. 



The lir-t of these zone- begins at about an altitude of 2,000 feet, 



which i- the altitude of the river vallev-. These vallevs. which radi- 



ate from the mountain, arc of glacial origin. They are broad at their 



■*5 lower end-, but as they approach the mountain they become more 



urrow and their sides are more precipitous. Aside from their shape 



s the thin^ that strikes the careful observer is the splendid foresl of 



large tree- and the odd forms of plant life which form the beautiful 



\ }f'>n--t .ever. These two conditions are nowhere Been to better 



lad van tag 



* The principal tree m these valleys near the park boundary i- the 

 l *Douglae lir. a well known tree, as it i- the most common and the 

 c most valuable tree in the Pugel Sound region. 1 The stranger ma\ 



whfc-h may he purchased from thi 



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