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LILY FAMILY (LILIACEAE).

This family includes many of the most common plants of this region. They are characterized by. undivided and parallel veined leaves and flower parts in threes or sixes. Petals and sepals are alike. A field key to native genera follows:

FIVE COMMON PLANTS OF THE LILY FAMILY (LILIACEAE).
(1) Trillium (Trillium ovatum). (2) Fairy Bells (Disporum oregonum). (3) Avalanche Lily (Erythronium montanum). (4) Star-flowered Solomon Seal (Smilacina stellata). (5) Wild Lily of the Valley (Maianthemum dilatatum).

Wild Onion (Allium validum). This plant is 10-24 inches tall with deep rose-colored flowers in a dense cluster (an umbel) at the apex of the erect stem. The leaves are narrow, linear to lanceolate, and the basal leaves sheathing the stem at its base. The plant has an onion odor when bruised. The bulb is on a rather long, stout rhizome. It is common in moist situations, such as Mountain Meadows in the northwest section of the park.

Nodding Wild Onion (Allium cornum). The common name of this species is derived from the slender, nodding stem, a character by which it may be readily recognized from the foregoing species. A cluster of pink flowers (in an umbel) is borne at the end of this nodding stem. The bulb is on a short rhizome; often clustered. This species is characteristic of dry rocky soils and has been collected in such localities on Mount Wow.

Queen's Cup (Clintonia uniflora). One of the most common plants of the deep woods. The single white flower is borne at the apex of a short, slender stem, 2"-5" tall. The segments of the flower cup are six in number, equal in size, distinct from one another and spreading. The leaves, generally 2-3 in number, are basal, 4"-6" long, and oblong in outline. The fruit is a beautiful turquoise berry.

Fairy Bells (Disporum oregonum). A plant of the deep woods. Stems are 12"-30" long, much branched and leafy with alternate sessile clasping leaves. Leaves oval in outline, cordate at the base, pointed at the tip. The white or cream colored flowers are borne singly or in a loose cluster of 2-3 at the ends of the branches. The flower is 1/4"-3/8" long, bell-like in form, and usually hidden beneath the foliage. The fruit is a handsome berry, yellow at first; later turning a bright red. See illustration on page 50.

Avalanche Lily (Erythronium montanum). One of the most common and best known flowers of the Hudsonian meadows. It is among the earliest plants to bloom at this elevation in the park, often pushing its way through the edges of receding snowbanks to form dense fields of flowers that are one of the most striking features of interest here during the latter part of June and early July. The large, nodding white flowers are about two inches across and they may be found singly or several on a stem; often as many as ten or twelve may be found on one stalk. The six segments of the blossom are recurved, and pure white, except for a yellow spot at the base of each one upon its inner side. The avalanche lily is also known as dogtooth violet, adder's tongue, and deer tongue. The local common name is derived from this plant's habit of blooming on the heels of melting snowbanks. (See illustration on page 50).

Glacier Lily (Erythronium grandiflorum var. pallidum). This plant is similar in general form to the avalanche lily but is smaller and has a bright golden yellow blossom. There is rarely more than one blossom on each stalk. Because it blooms somewhat earlier in the season and is not quite as abundant as the avalanche lily, this beautiful plant is not so well known.

Rice Root (Fritillaria lanceolata). A plant from 12"-36" tall with from one to six rather large nodding bell-like purple brown flowers whose petals are spotted with greenish-yellow. The leaves are narrow and sessile (stemless).

Tiger Lily (Lilium columbianum). This is a handsome plant from 15-40 inches tall; quite common on rather dry soils in the Hudsonian zone, though not strictly limited to that altitudinal range. Its common name is descriptive of the large tawny-orange flowers with their dark purple-brown spots. These flowers nod at the ends of slender stems and the segments of the blossoms are spreading recurved (curved backward and under). The leaves are mostly in whorls on the stem, oblanceolate in outline and from 2-4 inches long.

Alp Lily (Lloydia serotina). A slender low plant with linear grass-like leaves; a rare plant of the Hudsonian. The small creamy white flower is tinged with purple and borne singly on the stem; the segments of the blossom are recurved.

Wild Lily-of-the-Valley (Maianthemum dilatatum). A common plant of the moist deep woods, common up to 4000 feet. The ovate to lanceolate glossy green leaves are cordate (heart-shaped) at the base and acute pointed at the tips. The entire plant is from 6 to 8 inches tall and has numerous small white flowers borne at the end of the stem in a close raceme. (See illustration on page 50)

Star-flowered Solomon's Seal (Smilacina stellata). A common plant of the moist wooded regions of the park, It is often found in large patches up to 3500 ft. in elevation. It is six to 15 inches tall with oblong lanceolate, alternate leaves without leaf stalks. The small white star like flowers are borne in a loose simple open cluster (a raceme) at the ends of the rather long gracefully nodding, leafy, unbranched stems. The fruit is an attractive red berry when ripe. This plant often forms large patches in moist soil in shady situations. (See illustration on page).

False Solomon's Seal (Smilacina amplexicaulis). This is a larger plant than the foregoing, being 16-40 inches tall. The leaves, which are 2-1/2 - 5 inches long, are without leaf stalks and partially enfold the stems of the plant at their bases. The numerous small white flowers are borne in a dense cluster (panicle) at the end of the gracefully nodding stem. This very attractive plant is not so common as is the star-flowered solomon seal but grows under similar conditions of soil and moisture.

Bronze Bells (Stenanthium occidentalis). A frequent but not abundant plant, from 8-20 inches tall, with drooping brownish to bronze colored bell-like flowers which are borne in a loose raceme or panicle. The petals of the flowers are recurved and spreading. The leaves are linear to oblanceolate, and about 4-8 inches long. As this plant grows in very moist to boggy situations, among grasses and other plants of that nature, it is often hidden from view and is very apt to be overlooked.

Twisted Stalk (Streptopus amplexifolius). A fairly common plant of the moist shaded woods. The gracefully nodding, branched stalk occasionally grows to be three feet long. The leaves are ovate in outline, accuminate at the tip, without leaf stalks, and heart-shaped and clasping at the base. They are 2-4 inches long and alternate on the stem. The flowers are greenish-white to cream colored, bell-like in general form but with the segments of the blossoms spreading and recurved. They are solitary in the upper leaf axils and are borne upon slender pedicels or stems which are twisted so that the flower is beneath the leaves and usually hidden from view. The fruit is a bright red berry.

Twisted Stalk (Streptopus streptopoides). A second plant in the same genus which has no distinguishing common name. The petals of this plant are wide spreading and not bell-like in form, reddish tinged at the base and with yellowish green recurved tips.

Rose-flowered Twisted Stalk (Streptopus curvipes). As the common name implies this plant has rose colored flowers. The stems are simple and unbranched and the tips of the segments of the blossoms are not recurved.

Bog-asphodel (Tofieldia occidentalis). This plant, 4-12 inches tall grows in very moist to boggy situations as its common name indicates. The leaves are long and linear, (2-8 inches in length), and the small white flowers are borne in a dense raceme. The fruit is a rather showy purplish, many seeded capsule.

Trillium (Trillium ovatum). Most everyone is familiar with this very beautiful and common plant of the moist woods. In this national park it occurs up to 4000 ft., being one of the early spring plants at the lower elevations. However, as the season advances it may be readily found in full bloom in mid-summer at those higher levels of the altitudinal range. As the common and generic names simply the leaves and petals are in threes. The petals at first are pure white but turn a dark rose color with age. The leaves are broadly ovate and poiente at the tip and the single flower is borne at the apex of the stout stem, 8-16 inches tall. (See illustration on page ).

Green Hellebore (Veratrum eschscholtzii). A very common and conspicuous plant of the Hudsonian meadows. It grows 3-5 feet tall and is characterized by large, plaited leaves which encircle the stem at their base. The leaves are also parallel-veined. While the flowers are not attractive, being green in color, they are one of the most conspicuous features of this plant because they are borne in a striking "corn tassel" panicle at the apex of the tall stout stem.

White Hellebore (Veratrum caudatum). This plant closely resembles V. eschscholtzii in general form but has white flowers and grows in boggy situations at the lower altitudes in t ho park. It is quite common in the Longmire meadow.

Indian Basket Grass (Xerophyllum tenax). One of the most showy plants of the park. It is found from the lower elevations to above timberline, in open situations and in rather dry soils, but it is most common in the upper Canadian and lower Hudsonian zones from about 4500-5500 feet in elevation. There it often occurs in great abundance. The leaves are long, linear, rough edged and harsh to the touch, and are largely in dense basal tufts. The flower stalk is stout and at its apex one finds the dense, club-like raceme of white flowers. The flowers at the base of the raceme bloom first so that the lowering period of the plant is quite long. It is also known as bear grass and squaw grass.

IRIS FAMILY (IRIDACEAE).

Blue-eyed Grass (Sisyrinchium idahoense). This species is the only representative of the Iris family in Mt. Rainier National Park. It occurs in wet meadows and is quite common in the moist soils of the Longmire meadows. The leaves are linear, pointed at the tip and long, but do not exceed the length of the stems. While leaves nay occasionally be present on the stem, they are generally basal. The stems, 4-12 inches tall, are flattened and winged with finely toothed edges. The flowers, which are dark blue with a yellow center, are small and are borne on short stalks.

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Descriptions continued...