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HEATH FAMILY (ERICACEAE).

A very large and diversified family of plants which includes many of the most beautiful, interesting and common flowers in this national park. Saprophytic as well as nonsaprophytic plants are included; many of the included species are evergreen and both herbaceous and woody plants are numbered among the members of this family. A field key to native genera follows:

FOUR COMMON PLANTS OF THE HEATH FAMILY. (ERICACEAE).
(1) Pine Drops (Pterospera andromeda). (2) Many-flowered Indian Pipe (Monotropa hypopitys). (3) Prince's Pipe (Chimaphila umbellata). (4) Pyrola (Pyrola bracteata).

FIVE COMMON PLANTS OF THE HEATH FAMILY. (ERICACEAE).
(1) White Rhododendron (Rhododendron albiflorum). (2) Fool's Huckleberry (Menziesia ferruginea). (3) Red Heather (Phyllodoce empetriformis). (4) White Heather (Cassiope mertensiana). (5) Salal (Gaultheria shallon).

Barber's Pole (Allotropa virgata). This saprophytic plant is distinctive in its striped red and white markings and is fairly common in the coniferous woods of the lower Canadian zone. It grows to be 6-12 inches tall with a stout, erect, simple stem from 1/4-3/4 of an inch in diameter. The leaves are scale-like and numerous and the flowers (without petals) are in a crowded short spike.

Single-flowered Indian Pipe (Monotropa uniflora). This saprophytic plant is found in the deep moist woods below 2500 feet. The rather stout, erect stems generally occur in clusters, are from 4-10 inches tall and bear solitary white bell-like flowers about 1/4-3/4 of an inch long. Tips of the petals are sometimes edged with black and upon drying the plant turns black. The common name given above refers to the shape of the flowers which are borne singly upon the stem while another common name of Ghost Plant refers to the white color.

Many-flowered Indian Pipe (Monotropa hypopitys). This saprophyte is very common in the deep woods of the Canadian zone up to about the 4000 foot elevation. The entire plant is yellowish to red in color, with stout, erect, simple stems, often clustered, bearing from 3-20 bell-like flowers near the apex in a raceme. See illustration on page 94.

Cone Plant (Newberrya congesta). A rare saprophytic plant in the park, and one that is generally unfamiliar to many people. Yet, it will be readily recognized upon first acquaintance by the crowded, or congested, nature of the flowers, which accounts for the common and specific names. It is a stocky, simple stemmed, fleshy-white to faint pink, plant of the Canadian zone, and may be encountered up to an elevation of 3500 feet. It is from 4-8 inches tall, with numerous scale-like and imbricated (like shingles on a roof) oval to oblong leaves, and numerous tubular, urn-shaped flowers borne in a crowded raceme near the top of the short stem.

Pine Drops (Pterospera andromeda). This plant, a parasite upon roots of other plants, is quite common in the deep forests of the Canadian zone. The erect, stout, stems, 1/4-1/2 inch in diameter and from 12-36 inches tall, are a reddish-purple in color, and glandular hairy. The leaves are brownish, scale-like, from 1/4-1 inch long, and the flowers are pink to white in color, urn-shaped and nodding from stems, an inch or more in length, and borne in an elongated raceme. (See illustration on page 94.)

Prince's Pine (Chimaphila umbellata). One of the most common and beautiful plants of the deep woods of the Canadian zone. It is from 6-12 inches tall with thick leathery evergreen leaves, 3/4 - 1-1/2 inch long, that are widest near the tip and taper toward the base; edges of the leaves are toothed. Four to eight cup-shaped pink flowers, which are about 1/4 inch in diameter, are borne in a terminal corymb. (See illustration on page 94.)

Spotted Pipsissewa (Chimaphila umbellata). Not as common as the Prince's Pine and considerably smaller, being from 4-6 inches tall. The leaves are ovate to oblong (widest toward the base) in outline, toothed, evergreen and leathery in texture. The flowers are white to pink in 1-3 flowered corymbs.

Pyrola (Pyrola bracteata). A common plant of the deep woods of the Canadian zone. The leaves are all basal, have long stems, are leathery in texture, ovate in outline and have numerous rounded teeth upon the margin. From this group of basal leaves arises an erect stalk, 8-16 inches tall which bears a raceme of numerous pink to reddish flowers about 1/4 inch in diameter. (See illustration on page 94).

One-sided Pyrola (Pyrola secunda). This is quite a common plant of the deep woods of the Canadian zone that can be readily recognized by its short raceme of white flowers that grow from one side of the erect flower stalk - hence the common name. The leaves, while not basal, are most numerous along the base of the stem. They are ovate in outline with margins of numerous rounded teeth. The flower stalk is 4-10 inches tall.

Green Pyrola (Pyrola chlorantha). This plant can be recognized by the dull circular leaves, 3/4-1 inch tall, with long stems and a short raceme of 3-10 greenish-white flowers. The plant grows to be 4-8 inches tall and is occasionally noted in the deep woods of the Canadian zone.

Single Beauty (Pyrola uniflora var. reticulata). A small uncommon plant, from 2-4 inches tall whose single white to pinkish flower readily accounts for the common name. The leaves are in pairs or whorls near the base of the stem and are round to obovate, 1/4-3/4 of an inch long with the margins characterized by small rounded teeth.

While the above are the most common of the Pyrolas there are five additional species. Pyrola aphylla may be recognized by the plant's general red color and the absence (with the exception of one or two small green leaves that may be present) of leaves - these being reduced to bracts. It has a loose raceme of from 10 to 20 pink flowers and is from 4-8 inches tall. Pyrola picta has a central flower bearing stem 6-14 inches tall basal green leaves the veins of which are white bordered. Pyrola dentata has oblong to lanceolate leaves and white flowers. Pyrola uliqinosa has broadly ovate thin leaves that are dull rather than shiny. Pyrola minor is a rare plant with small leaves 1/2-1 inch long and white or pinkish flowers.

Labrador Tea (Ledum groenlandicum). This is an erect shrub from 4-6 feet tall that is rather common in boggy places in the Canadian zone such as the Longmire meadow. The leaves are alternate, evergreen, dark green on the upper side end covered with a rusty brown woolly pubescence underneath. In outline the leaves are narrowly oblong, 1-1/2 - 2-1/2 inches long, and the margins are curled under. The small white flowers are borne in rather dense corymbs at the ends of the branches.

Swamp Laurel (Kalmia polifolia). When in bloom this is a very showy plant with evergreen leaves and purplish flowers. It grows in very wet to boggy soils up to about 4000 feet, the oblong leaves are about an inch or less in length and the showy flowers measure about 1/4-1/2 inch in diameter and are borne in simple corymbs.

Mountain Laurel (Kalmia polifolia var. microphylla). This is a small plant fairly common in the very wet to boggy soils of the Hudsonian zone, that is pretty much of a "pocket edition" of the Swamp Laurel noted above. It rarely exceeds 10 inches in height and the leaves are not over 3/4 of an inch long with margins usually inrolled, and usually much shorter. The showy purple flowers are 1/4-1/2 inch in diameter.

White Rhododendron (Rhododendron albiflorum). A large erect bushy shrub, 3-6 feet tall with showy creamy-white flowers (3/4-1 inch in diameter across the top) in small clusters of from 1-3 blossoms. The leaves are oblong in outline, generally broader above the middle and from 1 - 2-1/2 inches long. This is a very common plant in the transition area between the Canadian and Hudsonian zone (4500-5200 feet). (See illustration on page 97.)

White Heather (Cassiope mertensiana). One of the common and most beautiful plants of the Hudsonian meadows. It is a much branched low shrub from 8-16 inches tall with small oblong, scale-like and imbricated (overlapping like the shingles on a roof) leaves and small white bell-like flowers borne singly at the apex of slender flower stalks. It occurs in small clumps and sometimes over rather extensive areas in the Hudsonian meadows. (See illustration on page 97.)

Alaska Heather (Harrimanella stelleriana). A rare plant of the Hudsonian zone. It is a small, low matted shrub with numerous small narrowly-oblong leaves and small white bell-like flowers borne singly at the ends of branches.

Red Heather (Phyllodoce empetriformis). One of the most common plants of the Hudsonian meadows where it often grows over rather extensive areas making a showy display when in bloom. It is a much branched evergreen shrub, 1-2 feet tall with numerous linear, needle-like leaves and red (sometimes purplish-red) bell-like flowers in umbelliferous clusters. (See illustration on page 97.)

Yellow Heather (Phyllodoce glanduliflora). A plant of the upper Hudsonian and lower Arctic-alpine zones, 6-18 inches tall with short linear needle-like leaves and pale yellow urn-shaped flowers.

Fool's Huckleberry (Menziesia ferruginea). An erect shrub from 3-6 feet tall, much branched and with the branches falsely whorled. Leaves deciduous, 3/4-2 inches long with the widest part above the middle. The flowers are reddish yellow in color, bell-like and borne in corymbs or umbels at the ends of the previous year's branches. This plant is quite common in the upper Canadian zone from 4000-5000 feet. It resembles the huckleberries but can be readily recognized from those plants by the fact that its fruit is dry rather than fleshy (which accounts for the common name) and its flowers are borne in clusters rather than singly as is generally the case with Vaccinium. (See illustration on page 97.)

Low-bush Huckleberry (Vaccinium deliciosum). A common low shrub of the Hudsonian meadows, 4-12 inches tall with numerous round branches. Leaves 3/4-1 inch long. The pink globular flowers are borne singly in the leaf axils and the berries are black and sweet.

High-bush Huckleberry (Vaccinium membranaceum). A shrub 3-5 feet tall with ovate acute leaves 1/2-2 inches long that have very finely toothed margins. The flowers are borne singly and are yellowish. The berry is large, black or dark wine colored end very delicious. This plant is common between 4500 and 5500 feet end is the most sought after of all the huckleberries for pies and jellies.

Red Huckleberry (Vaccinium parviflorum). This plant is found in the Canadian zone and is very common. It is from 3-6 feet tall with green sharp angled branchlets and oblong entire leaves from 1/4-3/4 inch long. The globular pinkish flowers on slender recurved stalks are solitary in the leaf axils. The berry is a bright red.

Small Red Huckleberry (Vaccinium scoparium). This is found in the upper Canadian zone up to an elevation of about 5000 feet. It is a low shrub, 6-15 inches tall with numerous green, angled branches and bright green leaves (1/4-1/2 inch long) with toothed margins. The flowers are solitary globular and pinkish.

Huckleberry (Vaccinium ovalifolium). A plant of the Canadian zone. It is from 3-6 feet tall with branches only slightly angled and oblong leaves (3/4-2 inches long) which are either nearly entire or with the margins having small teeth. The flowers are pink, urn-shaped and borne solitary in the leaf axils The berries are black.

Huckleberry (Vaccinium occidentale). A plant of the Canadian zone, being about 3 feet or less tall. The small flowers are mostly solitary but occasionally occur in clusters of 2 to 4 blossoms The berry is black.

Evergreen Huckleberry (Vaccinium ovatum). A leafy much branched shrub 3-4 feet tall. The leaves, as the common name indicates, are evergreen oblong-lanceolate, dark green and shiny on the upper surface, have toothed margins and are from 1/2-3/4 of an inch long. The pink flowers are in short crowded racemes borne in the leaf axils. The berry is black. This plant is not common.

Salal (Gaultheria shallon). This is one of the most common plants in the lower elevations in the park. It has woody stems and is from 1-3 feet tall and bushy to sprawling. The leaves are leathery in texture, shiny green above, lighter on the underside, 1-4 inches long with the margins toothed and ovate-oblong in outline. It is evergreen. Many white to pink urn-shaped flowers are borne in racemes and the fruit is a dark purple berry nearly as large as a concord grape. (See illustration on page 97.)

Upland Salal (Gaultheria ovatifolia). A plant of the upper Canadian zone with trailing or sprawling stems 4-6 inches tall. The leaves are ovate in outline and acute, 1/2 - 1-1/4 inches long and have toothed margins. The flowers are borne singly in the axils of the leaves and the fruit is a brilliant red berry. A third species - Gaultheria humifosa - is somewhat similar to G. ovatifolia but the leaves are smaller.

Manzanita (Arctostaphylos tomentosa). A much branched woody shrub 3-6 feet tall with alternate, leathery, dull green evergreen leaves that are oblong-ovate in outline and pointed with a short slender tip. (Cuspidate) The young twigs are grey-hairy. The white flowers are Urn-shaped and in terminal racemes. The fruit is fleshy, greenish and marked with rose. This plant is quite common in the lower Stevens Canyon area.

Kinnikinnick (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi). A much branched prostrate woody plant with red branches that often forms dense mats in rocky soils. The leaves are 1/2-1 inch long, ovate but widest above the middle, leathery in texture and evergreen. The pink flowers are in short terminal racemes and the fruit is bright red and berry-like. This is widely distributed in the park and occurs from 2500 to 6000 feet principally on rocky locations. A third species - Arctostaphylos nevadensis - is also a much branched prostrate shrub but has smaller ovate leaves about 1/2 inch long with a short slender pointed tip. The stems are also much more red than the Kinnikinnick. It is not common but fairly widely distributed.

Madrona (Arbutus menziessii). A specimen of this plant was found, during the summer of 1937, just outside the park boundary in the southeast corner of the area near the Ohanapecosh Hot Springs at an elevation of about 1600 feet. However, while the Madrona has not actually been found within the park to date, we are tentatively including it as a member of our flora. The specimen noted was so close to the boundary and conditions within the park were so similar to those where it was found that it is very likely that further investigation will reveal the presence of one or two of these very interesting trees within the park. As this is a tree, a complete description will be given in a future issue of "Nature Notes" that will deal exclusively with the forests of Mt. Rainier National Park. The key, (on page 92) will describe it sufficiently for this publication.

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Descriptions continued...