FLORA OF MOUNT RAINIER NATIONAL PARK. 
35 
resembling the common dandelion. The potentilla, Potentilla flabel- 
lifolia, is a common buttercup-like plant already referred to. There 
are two or three species of arnicas, which may be known by their 
opposite cordate or ovate leaves and rather large heads of yellow 
flowers. One species, Arnica parryi, has its heads entirely rayless and 
usually solitary. It therefore takes little part in the color scheme. 
Senecio triangularis may be known by its rather tall stem, small 
heads, and triangular dentate leaves. It requires plenty of moisture 
and is found near streams and springs. It ranges from Longmire 
Springs to the “Camp of the Clouds.’' 
The pentstemons, epilobiums, asters, erigerons, claytonias, etc., 
contribute pink and purple in ever varying shades, making the har¬ 
mony complete. 
The tree groups among these flower beds are composed largely of 
the alpine fir, alpine hemlock, Alaska cedar, and the white-barked 
pine, Pinus albicaulis. This pine is rare on the south side, but is 
common on the north and east sides 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 fierce struggle 
for existence their wood has been strengthened to a remarkable 
degree as compared with wood of trees at sea lev'el. Many of the 
shorter trees remain buried for months in snowdrifts 15 to 20 feet in 
depth. It is not strange that such trees should have a gnarled and 
distorted appearance even at an altitude of 5,500 feet. Between 
this altitude and 6,500 feet there is a marked change to smaller 
plants, steeper slopes and poorer soil, but no diminution in color. 
In fact, the color scheme is intensified, and many of the most beautiful 
flower beds are found about 6,000 feet or a little above. 
Phlox diffusa (fig. 28) is here arrayed in large masses of lavender 
flowers changing to white as they become older. The painted cups here 
vary from red to crimson and sometimes even to purple. There are 
three or four different species of them in these flower beds. Castilleia 
miniata is known by its entire lanceolate leaves. The other species 
are similar to each other and are known only to botanists. Cusick’s 
speedwell which, in the second zone was said to be partially hidden 
under the larger plants, is seen to better advantage here and often 
forms beautiful blue patches to the exclusion of other plants. 
The blue gentian, Gentiana calycosa (fig. 29), with its large funnel- 
form flowers and opposite sessile ovate leaves, grows here in moist 
places. It is one of the most admired of the blue flowers found on the 
mountain. It is not strange that it attracted the trained eye of Dr. 
Tolmie, the first botanist to visit the mountain. It was named from 
specimens collected by him near the Puyallup Glacier in 1837. It is 
