FLORA OF MOUNT RAINIER NATIONAL PARK. 
43 
often embedded on moss-covered rocks. Along the streams there 
are several other species, which grow here and there with reniform 
leaves and small white flowers. 
The spring beauty, Claytonia lanceolata, is common on the dry 
grassy slopes, and may be known by its low stemless habit, pink 
flowers, and lanceolate leaves from a tuberous root which was used 
by the Indians for food. The Indian basket grass occurs in several 
of the meadows up in this area. In the upper part of Paradise Valley, 
on the ridge west of Sluiskin Falls, there is a large field of it near tim- 
Fig. 35.—Tolmie’s saxifraga (Saxifraga tolmiei). 
Color of flower, white; height of plant, 3 to 4 inches; blooms July and August. 
Photograph by Asahel Curtis. 
her line. These plants are found in full bloom long after those below 
have gone to seed. This plant furnishes an excellent example of 
what altitude does for a plant. It extends from 2,750 feet, at Long- 
mire Springs, to timber line, about 7,000 feet. 
The Alaska spiraea, Lutkea pectinata, forms clusters often exclud¬ 
ing other plants. Its creeping habit enables it to form heather-like 
mats. It has short shrubby stems 4 to 6 inches high, bearing a dense 
raceme of small white flowers; leaves twice or thrice palmately three 
cleft. These mats of sharply cleft bright green leaves are very notice¬ 
able even where the plant is not in bloom. In and among these mats 
