Historic, Archive Document Do not assume content reflects current scientific knowledge, policies, or practices. I Z-SDH ca USDA united states Vascular Plant Department of Agriculture ldentitication PNW Forest Service Alaska Region Pacific Northwest Research Station Guide Chugach National Forest o g . ' ZQ CD O i~r | CCD — i R10-MB-421 VASCULAR PLANT IDENTIFICATION GUIDE CHUGACH NATIONAL FOREST Robert L. DeVelice1 Susan L. Boudreau2 Charles Wertheim3 Connie J. Hubbard4 Chrystal Czarnecki5 May 2001 USDA Forest Service Chugach National Forest 3301 C Street, Suite 300 Anchorage, Alaska 99503-3998 JUSDA Forest Service, Chugach National Forest 2USDI National Park Service, Denali National Park 3private consultant, Glenwood Springs, Colorado 4USDA Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station 5Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, or marital or family status. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call (202) 720-5964 (voice and TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS We acknowledge John DeLapp, Tom DeMeo, Jon Martin, Bill Pawuk, Beth Schulz, and Mary Stensvold for their valuable suggestions and helpful reviews. We extend special appreciation to field crews, without whose hard work the data upon which this guide is based would not have existed. We appreciate the assistance Mona Spargo provided in the layout and final preparation of this document. We also thank the USDA Forest Service Alaska Region, Chugach National Forest, and the Forestry Sciences Laboratory of the Pacific Northwest Research Station for their encouragement and support. The Forestry Sciences Laboratory, Pacific Northwest Research Station, Anchorage, Alaska generously provided funding for printing this guide. All line drawings are from Flora of Alaska and Neighboring Territories: A Manual of the Vascular Plants, by Eric Hulten, and are used with the permis- sion of the publishers, Stanford University Press © 1968 by the Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University. TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION TREES Betula kenaica Betula papyrifera Chamaecyparis nootkatensis Picea glauca Picea X lutzii Picea mariana Picea sitchensis Populus balsamifera subsp. balsamifera Populus balsamifera subsp. trichocarpa Populus tremuloides Salix scouleriana Tsuga heterophylla Tsuga mertensiana SHRUBS Alnus crispa subsp. sinuata Alnus incana subsp. tenuifolia Amelanchier spp. Andromeda polifolia Arctostaphylos alpina Arctostaphylos rubra Arctostaphylos uva-ursi Betula glandulosa/nana Cassiope mertensiana Cassiope stelleriana Cassiope tetragona Cladothamnus pyrolaeflorus Diapensia lapponica Dryas octopetala Echinopanax horridum Empetrum nigrum Juniperus communis Ledum palustre subsp. decumbens Ledum palustre subsp. groenlandicum Linnaea borealis Loiseleuria procumbens 1 3 Kenai birch 4 paper birch 4 Alaska yellow cedar 5 white spruce 5 Lutz spruce 6 black spruce 6 Sitka spruce 7 balsam poplar 7 black cottonwood 8 quaking aspen 8 Scouler willow 9 western hemlock 9 mountain hemlock 10 13 Sitka alder 13 thinleaf alder 13 serviceberry 14 bog rosemary 14 alpine bearberry 15 red bearberry 15 kinnikinnick 16 dwarf birches 16 Mertens cassiope 17 S teller’s cassiope 17 four-angled cassiope 18 copperbush 18 diapensia 19 white mountain-avens 19 devil’s club 20 crowberry 20 common juniper 21 narrow-leaf Labrador-tea 21 Greenland Labrador-tea 22 twinflower 22 alpine azalea 23 Luetkea pectinata luetkea Malus fusca Oregon crab apple Menziesia ferruginea rusty menziesia Myrica gale sweetgale Oxycoccus microcarpus bog cranberry Phyllodoce aleutica Aleutian mountain heath Potentilla fruticosa shrubby cinquefoil Ribes bracteosum stink currant Ribes glandulosum skunk currant Ribes hudsonianum northern black currant Ribes lacustre bristly black currant Ribes laxiflorum trailing black currant Ribes triste northern red currant Rosa acicularis prickly rose Rubus idaeus raspberry Rubus spectabilis salmonberry Salix alaxensis feltleaf willow Salix arctica arctic willow Salix barclayi Barclay willow Salix commutata undergreen willow Salix depressa subsp. rostrata Bebb willow Salix hookeriana Hooker willow Salix myrtillifolia low blueberry willow Salix pulchra tealeaf willow Salix reticulata netleaf willow Salix rotundifolia least willow Salix sitchensis Sitka willow Sambucus racemosa elderberry Shepherdia canadensis buffaloberry Sibbaldia procumbens creeping sibbaldia Sorbus scopulina western mountain-ash Sorbus sitchensis Sitka mountain-ash Spiraea beauverdiana Beauverd spiraea Vaccinium alaskensis Alaska blueberry Vaccinium caespitosum dwarf blueberry Vaccinium ovalifolium early blueberry Vaccinium uliginosum bog blueberry Vaccinium vitis-idaea lowbush cranberry Viburnum edule highbush cranberry 23 24 24 25 25 26 26 27 27 28 28 29 29 30 30 31 31 32 32 33 33 34 34 35 35 36 36 37 37 38 38 39 39 40 40 41 41 42 42 FORBS 43 Achillea borealis yarrow Aconitum delphinifolium monkshood Actaea rubra baneberry Anemone narcissiflora narcissus anemone Anemone richardsonii yellow anemone Angelica genuflexa bent-leaved angelica Angelica lucida seacoast angelica Antennaria monocephala pygmy pussytoes Apargidium boreale apargidium Aquilegia formosa western columbine Arabis lyrata lyreleaved rockcress Arnica latifolia broadleaf arnica Artemisia arctica boreal sagebrush Artemisia tilesii Aleutian mugwort Aruncus Sylvester goatsbeard Boschniakia rossica ground-cone Callitriche hermaphroditica northern waterstarwort Callitriche vema spring waterstarwort Caltha palustris yellow marsh-marigold Campanula lasiocarpa mountain harebell Campanula rotundifolia bluebells of Scotland Cardamine umbellata little western bittercress Castilleja unalaschcensis Alaska Indian paintbrush Cicuta douglasii western water hemlock Cicuta mackenzieana Mackenzie’s water hemlock Circaea alpina enchanter’s nightshade Coeloglossum viride longbract frog orchid Conioselinum chinense western hemlock-parsley Coptis aspleniifolia fern leaf goldenthread Coptis trifolia trifoliate goldenthread Comus canadensis bunchberry Delphinium glaucum larkspur Dodecatheon pulchellum pretty shooting star Drosera rotundifolia round-leaf sundew Epilobium adenocaulon northern willow herb Epilobium anagalladifolium alpine willow herb Epilobium angustifolium tall fireweed Epilobium glandulosum fringed willow herb Epilobium homemannii Homemann’s willow herb Epilobium latifolium dwarf fireweed Epilobium leptocarpum slenderfruit willow herb iii 45 45 46 46 47 47 48 48 49 49 50 50 51 51 52 52 53 53 54 54 55 55 56 56 57 57 58 59 59 60 60 61 61 61 62 62 63 63 64 64 65 Epilobium palustre swamp willow herb 65 Erigeron peregrinus subalpine fleabane 66 Fauria crista-galli deer cabbage 66 Fragaria chiloensis beach strawberry 67 Fritillaria camschatcensis chocolate lily 67 Galium boreale northern bedstraw 68 Galium trifidum threepetal bedstraw 68 Galium triflorum fragrant bedstraw 69 Gentiana douglasiana swamp gentian 69 Gentiana glauca pale gentian 70 Gentiana platypetala spotted gentian 70 Geocaulon lividum northern comandra 71 Geranium erianthum northern geranium 71 Geum calthifolium calthaleaf avens 72 Geum macrophyllum large-leaf avens 72 Hedysarum alpinum alpine sweetvetch 73 Heracleum lanatum cow parsnip 73 Heuchera glabra alpine heuchera 74 Hieracium triste woolly hawkweed 74 Hippuris tetraphylla fourleaf marestail 75 Hippuris vulgaris common marestail 75 Honckenya peploides seaside sandplant 76 Iris setosa wild iris 76 Lathyrus maritimus beach pea 77 Lathyrus palustris vetchling 77 Ligusticum scoticum beach lovage 78 Listera borealis northern twayblade 78 Listera caurina western twayblade 79 Listera cordata heart-leaf twayblade 79 Lloydia serotina common alplily 80 Lupinus nootkatensis Nootka lupine 80 Lysichiton americanum skunk cabbage 81 Lysimachia thyrsiflora tufted loosestrife 81 Maianthemum dilatatum deerberry 82 Menyanthes trifoliata buckbean 82 Mertensia paniculata chiming bells 83 Minuartia arctica arctic stitchwort 83 Moehringia lateriflora grove sandwort 84 Moneses uniflora single delight 84 Myosotis alpestris forget-me-not 85 Myriophyllum sibiricum shortspike watermilfoil 85 Nuphar polysepala yellow pondlily 86 Osmorhiza depauperata blunt-fruit sweet-cicely 86 IV Osmorhiza purpurea Sitka sweet-cicely 87 Oxytropis nigrescens blackish oxytrope 87 Pamassia palustris northern grass-of-pamassas 88 Pedicularis capitata capitate lousewort 88 Pedicularis kanei woolly lousewort 89 Pedicularis labradorica Labrador lousewort 89 Pedicularis langsdorfii Langsdorf’s lousewort 90 Pedicularis parviflora smallflower lousewort 90 Pedicularis verticillata whorled lousewort 91 Petasites hyperboreus arctic sweet coltsfoot 91 Pinguicula vulgaris common butterwort 92 Plantago maritima goosetongue plantain 92 Platanthera dilitata boreal bog orchid 93 Platanthera saccata slender bog orchid 93 Polemonium acutiflorum tall Jacob’s-ladder 94 Polygonum viviparum alpine bistort 94 Potamogeton filiformis slender-leaved pondweed 95 Potamogeton natans floating pondweed 95 Potamogeton pectinatus sago pondweed 96 Potamogeton perfoliatus claspingleaf pondweed 96 Potentilla egedii Pacific silverweed 97 Potentilla palustris marsh fivefinger 97 Prenanthes alata rattlesnake root 98 Primula cuneifolia wedgeleaf primrose 98 Pyrola asarifolia liverleaf wintergreen 99 Pyrola chlorantha greenish wintergreen 99 Pyrola grandiflora largeflowered wintergreen 100 Pyrola minor snowline wintergreen 100 Pyrola secunda one-sided wintergreen 101 Ranunculus cymbalaria seaside buttercup 101 Ranunculus occidentalis western buttercup 102 Ranunculus trichophyllus white water crowfoot 102 Rhinanthus minor yellow rattle 103 Rubus arcticus nagoonberry 103 Rubus chamaemorus cloudberry 104 Rubus pedatus fiveleaf bramble 104 Rumex fenestratus western dock 105 Sanguisorba stipulata Sitka bumet 105 Saxifraga bronchialis yellowdot saxifrage 106 Saxifraga punctata heart-leaved saxifrage 106 Saxifraga tricuspidata prickly saxifrage 107 Sedum rosea roseroot stonecrop 107 Senecio triangularis arrowleaf groundsel 108 V Solidago multiradiata northern goldenrod 108 Sparganium angustifolium floating burreed 109 Sparganium hyperboreum northern burreed 109 Sparganium minimum small burreed 110 Spiranthes romanzoffiana hooded ladies’ tresses 110 Stellaria calycantha northern starwort 111 Stellaria crassifolia fleshy starwort 111 Stellaria crispa curled starwort 112 Stellaria sitchana Sitka starwort 112 Streptopus amplexifolius twistedstalk 113 Subularia aquatica awl wort 113 Swertia perennis star gentian 114 Thalictrum sparsiflorum fewflower meadowrue 114 Tiarella trifoliata foamflower 115 Tofieldia coccinea northern asphodel 115 Tofieldia glutinosa sticky false-asphodel 116 Trientalis europaea starflower 116 Triglochin maritimum seaside arrowgrass 117 Utricularia vulgaris common bladderwort 117 Valeriana sitchensis Sitka valerian 118 Veratrum viride false hellebore 118 Viola epipsila marsh violet 119 Viola glabella yellow violet 119 Viola langsdorffii Alaska violet 120 GRAMINOIDS 121 Agrostis aequivalvis arctic bentgrass 124 Agrostis alaskana Alaska bentgrass 124 Arctagrostis latifolia polargrass 125 Arctophila fulva pendant grass 125 Calamagrostis canadensis bluejoint reedgrass 126 Calamagrostis nutkaensis Pacific reedgrass 126 Carex anthoxanthea arctic sedge 127 Carex aquatilis water sedge 127 Carex lyngbyaei Lyngbye’s sedge 128 Carex macrochaeta longawned sedge 128 Carex magellanica boreal bog sedge 129 Carex microchaeta smallawned sedge 129 Carex microglochin fewseeded bog sedge 130 Carex pauciflora fewflower sedge 130 Carex pluriflora many flower sedge 131 Carex sitchensis Sitka sedge 131 Deschampsia caespitosa tufted hairgrass 132 VI Eleocharis acicularis needle spikerush Eleocharis palustris common spikerush Elymus arenarius beach rye Eriophorum angustifolium tall cottongrass Eriophorum russeolum red cottongrass Festuca altaica rough fescue Eestuca rubra red fescue Glyceria pauciflora false mannagrass Hierochloe alpina alpine holygrass Hordeum brachyantherum meadow barley Juncus alpinus alpine rush Juncus arcticus arctic rush Luzula multiflora common woodrush Luzula parviflora smallfiowered woodrush Luzula wahlenbergii Wahlenberg’s woodrush Phleum commutatum mountain timothy Poa lanata arctic bluegrass Poa macrantha seashore bluegrass Puccinellia nutkaensis Nootka alkaligrass Puccinellia pumila dwarf alkaligrass Trichophorum caespitosum tufted bulrush Trisetum spicatum spike trisetum Vahlodea atropurpurea mountain hairgrass FERNS AND FERN ALLIES Athyrium filix-femina lady fern Blechnum spicant deer fern Cystopteris fragilis fragile fern Dryopteris dilatata wood fern Equisetum arvense common horsetail Equisetum fluviatile swamp horsetail Equisetum palustre marsh horsetail Equisetum pratense meadow horsetail Equisetum sylvaticum woodland horsetail Equisetum variegatum northern horsetail Gymnocarpium dryopteris oak fern Lycopodium alpinum alpine clubmoss Lycopodium annotinum stiff clubmoss Lycopodium clavatum running clubmoss Lycopodium complanatum groundcedar Lycopodium sabinifolium savinleaf groundpine Lycopodium selago fir clubmoss Selaginella selaginoides club spikemoss vii 132 133 133 134 134 135 135 136 136 137 137 138 138 139 139 140 140 141 141 142 142 143 143 145 146 146 147 147 148 148 149 149 150 150 151 151 152 152 153 153 154 154 Thelypteris limbosperma maiden fern 155 Thelypteris phegopteris beech fern 155 APPENDICES 157 Appendix 1. Comparison between Hulten and PLANTS nomenclature 159 Appendix 2. Comparison among white, Lutz, and Sitka spruce 161 Appendix 3. Comparison between western and mountain hemlock 162 Appendix 4. Comparison among stink, trailing black, northern black, and northern red currant 163 Appendix 5. Comparison between Alaska and early blueberry 164 Appendix 6. Glossary 165 Appendix 7. Common name index 170 Appendix 8 Suggested Reading 178 viii INTRODUCTION This book is primarily a visual and descriptive guide to vascular plant species commonly found on the Chugach National Forest. This book is intended for all users, not just botanists, and as such, technical terminology has been avoided whenever possible. For more comprehensive descriptions and keys to the plants we suggest Flora of Alaska and Neighboring Territories: A Manual of the Vascular Plants (Hulten, 1968). An earlier version of this guide was entitled Forest Plant Identification Guide: Chugach National Forest (Borchers and Wertheim 1992) and featured 194 taxa. We have revised the earlier guide by expanding the scope to include plants pre- dominately found in non-forest settings and other forest species found to be common on the National Forest. A total of 284 taxa are included. Included are woody species occurring on five or more of 2300 sample sites; forbs, ferns, and fern allies occurring on 10 or more of the sites; and graminoids (grass and grass-like plants) occurring on 20 or more of the sites. Also included are less common species if they are used in the names or descriptions of com- munity types in DeVelice et al. (1999). This guide is organized by life forms: trees; shrubs; forbs; graminoids; and ferns and fern allies. Names are organized alphabetically by genus and species within each life form. Descriptions are presented in the following format: GENUS AND SPECIES SPECIES CODE COMMON NAME FAMILY HABIT: Size range and general appearance of the species. KEY CHARACTERS: Description of the species. HABITAT: Description of the most frequently occupied habitat. Scientific nomenclature follows Hulten (1968). Common names are from vari- ous sources. Species codes are as provided in the PLANTS database (USDA, NRCS 1999). For 58 species, the PLANTS database provides revised scientific nomenclature from that in Hulten. A crosswalk table listing these revisions (based on a February 5, 2001 download from the PLANTS database) is in the Appendices. Also included are summary tables, located in the Appendices, of major charac- teristics of genera that contain a number of species that are often confused. A Glossary is located in the Appendices that will help the user become acquainted with terms. 1 2 TREES Betula kenaica Kenai birch BEKE2 Betulaceae HABIT: Deciduous, 20-80 feet. KEY CHARACTERS: Leaves alternate, doubly toothed, short-pointed with hairs above. Twigs with reddish hairs and resin dots when young. Inflorescence a short, narrow, dark brown catkin. Fruit cone-like, 1 inch long, upright or spreading. Bark dark brown and papery. xv2 HABITAT: Subalpine, in alder belt. Betula papyrifera BEPA paper birch Betulaceae HABIT: Deciduous, 20-80 feet. KEY CHARACTERS: Leaves alternate, toothed, long-pointed, hairless above. Twigs with many resin dots. Inflorescence a short, thick, greenish-brown catkin. Fruit cone- like, hairless, 1-1% inches long, hanging down or spreading. Bark white and papery. HABITAT: Low elevation to treeline. Prefers warm slopes with moist porous soils, also common on cold north slopes and poorly drained lowlands. Common pio- neer after bums. In pure stands or with white or black spruce. 4 Chamaecyparis nootkatensis CHNO Alaska yellow cedar Cupressaceae HABIT: Evergreen, 40-80 feet. KEY CHARACTERS: Leaves yellow- green, scale-like, pointed, and spreading. Leafy twigs four-angled. Branches droop. Cones small, round, with 4-6 scales. Wood with “potato-like” odor. HABITAT: Scattered in small groups in coastal forest from sea level to treeline but best developed below 1200 feet. In pure stands or with birch. Picea glauca PIGL white spruce Pinaceae HABIT: Evergreen, 35-85 feet. KEY CHARACTERS: Needles ^-3/ inches long, four-angled, pointed, with white lines on all sides. Twigs hairless, with needles massing on top near the ends. Needles and twigs with skunk-like odor. Cones VA-TA inches long, deciduous, cylindrical, nearly stalkless, with thin, round, smooth, flexible scales. Inner bark white. HABITAT: Sea level to treeline. Prefers river bottoms, sandy lakeshores, and well- drained gentle south slopes. 5 Picea X lutzii Lutz spruce PILU Pinaceae A natural hybrid between white spruce and Sitka spruce, with most characteristics intermediate between the two species. HABIT: Evergreen, 55-100 feet. KEY CHARACTERS: Needles slightly four-angled with white upper surface. Cones scales short and toothed. Picea mariana PIMA black spruce Pinaceae HABIT: Evergreen, 15-30 feet. KEY CHARACTERS: Needles short, squarish in cross-section, with white lines on all sides. Twigs red hairy. Cones 1 inch long, rounded, dark, remaining on tree sev- eral years. Inner bark yellow. HABITAT: Muskegs, wet meadows, lakeshores. 6 Picea sitchensis PISI Sitka spruce Pinaceae HABIT: Evergreen, 80-150 feet. KEY CHARACTERS: Needles %-l inch long, flattened, keeled underneath, sharp pointed, white above. Twigs hairless. Cones 2-3 lA inches long, cylindric-oblong, with long, thin, stiff, rounded, and toothed scales. Inner bark white with brown dots. HABITAT: Chiefly below 1500 feet, but up to 3000 feet. In pure stands or with hem- lock or cottonwood. Populus balsamifera subsp. balsamifera POBAB2 balsam poplar Salicaceae HABIT: Deciduous, 30-^T5 feet. KEY CHARACTERS: Leaves alternate, pale and rusty brown underneath, with small rounded teeth. Winter buds 1 inch long, sticky, pointed, odorous. Inflorescence a 2-3 Vi inch long, drooping catkin. Fruit hairless 2-parted capsules on 6 inch long catkins. Bark thick, grey, deeply furrowed. HABITAT: River valleys, lakeshores, allu- vial flats. 7 Populus balsamifera subsp. trichocarpa POBAT black cottonwood Salicaceae HABIT: Deciduous, 80-100 feet. KEY CHARACTERS: Leaves alternate, pale and rusty brown underneath, with small rounded teeth. Winter buds X inches long, sticky, pointed. Inflorescence a VA-3 inch long drooping catkin. Fruit 3-parted capsules with white hairs, on 6 inch long catkins. Bark thick, grey, deeply furrowed. HABITAT: Open forests, river bottoms. Populus tremuloides POTR5 quaking aspen Salicaceae HABIT: Deciduous, 2CM-0 feet. KEY CHARACTERS: Leaves with flat petiole and small rounded teeth. Inflorescence 1- 2Vi inch long drooping catkin. Fruit 2-parted capsules on 4 inch long catkins. Bark smooth, pale, yellowish- green. HABITAT: Open forests, streambanks, south slopes. Common pioneer after burns. 8 Salix scouleriana Scouler willow SASC Salicaceae HABIT: Deciduous, 30-60 feet. KEY CHARACTERS: Leaves alternate, red pubescent underneath, crowded at ends of twigs. Buds red, without bud scales. Fruit woolly capsules on 2 inch long, stalkless catkins. Bark grey and smooth. HABITAT: Forests, muskegs, burned areas. x% Tsuga heterophylla TSHE western hemlock Pinaceae HABIT: Evergreen, 100-120 feet. KEY CHARACTERS: Needles in 2 rows on twigs, flattened, white underneath. Leading branch at top of tree droops. Cones %- 1 inch long. Inner bark red. Bark red- dish-brown. HABITAT: Sea level to subalpine, below mountain hemlock zone. Prefers moist flats and low slopes. In stands with Sitka spruce and mountain hemlock. 9 Tsuga mertensiana TSME mountain hemlock Pinaceae HABIT: Evergreen, 50-100 feet. Sometimes 10 feet tall or less in musegs and at upper treeline. KEY CHARACTERS: Needles on all sides of twigs, keeled, curved, white on both sides. Leading branch at top of tree droops. Cones 1-3 inches long. Bark gray to dark- brown. xy3 HABITAT: Sea level to 3500 feet, extend- ing higher than western hemlock. Muskegs and mountain slopes. 10 SHRUBS 11 12 Alnus crispa subsp. sinuata Sitka alder ALCRS Betulaceae HABIT: Deciduous, ascending, many- stemmed shrub, 5-25 feet. KEY CHARACTERS: Leaves alternate, doubly toothed, shiny, sticky when young, with pointy lobes. Stems usually curved. Inflorescence a 3-5 inch catkin. Fruit cone- like on stalks longer than % inch. HABITAT: Sea level to alpine. Streambanks, disturbed areas, shorelines, slopes, avalanche shoots. Alnus incana subsp. tenuifolia ALINT thinleaf alder Betulaceae HABIT: Deciduous large shrub or small tree, 15-30 feet. KEY CHARACTERS: Leaves alternate, doubly toothed, with rounded lobes, often with reddish color. Inflorescence a narrow, 1M-3 inch long catkin. Fruit cone-like on stalks shorter than lA inch. HABITAT: Open forests, streambanks. 13 Amelanchier spp. serviceberry AMELA Rosaceae HABIT: Deciduous low shrub to small tree, 1-15 feet. KEY CHARACTERS: Leaves alternate, nearly round, with teeth toward tip. Flowers white, fragrant. Fruits apple-like, round, purplish-black, less than X inch in diameter. HABITAT: Open forests, meadows. Andromeda polifolia ANPO bog rosemary Ericaceae HABIT: Evergreen, creeping shrub with ascending branches, Up to 1 foot (usually shorter). KEY CHARACTERS: Leaves alternate, whitish underneath, edges rolled under, thick, with sunken veins above. Flowers pink, in terminal inflorescences, nodding. Fruit lA inch diameter, round, 5-parted cap- sules. HABITAT: Muskegs. 14 Arctostaphylos alpina ARAL2 alpine bearberry Ericaceae HABIT: Deciduous prostrate shrub, 2-A inches. KEY CHARACTERS: Leaves alternate, whitish underneath, toothed, thick, distinct- ly veined, with hairy edges. Flowers white, few, terminal, nodding. Fruit round, black berries. HABITAT: Alpine tundra. Arctostaphylos rubra ARRU red bearberry Ericaceae HABIT: Deciduous prostrate shrub, to 6 inches. KEY CHARACTERS: Leaves alternate, whitish underneath, toothed, thin, distinctly veined, without hairy edges. Flowers white, few, terminal, nodding. Fruit round, red berries. HABITAT: Spruce forests, muskegs. 15 Arctostaphylos uva-ursi ARUV kinnikinnick Ericaceae HABIT: Evergreen prostrate shrub, 3-4 inches. KEY CHARACTERS: Leaves alternate, spatula-shaped, leathery, distinctly veined. Flowers white to pink, in few-flowered ter- minal inflorescences. Fruit dry, red berries. HABITAT: Open spruce forests, dry sandy places with aspen. Betula glandulosa/nana BETUL dwarf birches Betulaceae Betula glandulosa and B. nana hybridize extensively with each other, making identi- fication difficult. The dwarf birches also hybridize with the tree birches. HABIT: Deciduous low spreading to upright shrub, 1-5 feet. KEY CHARACTERS: Leaves alternate, less than 1 inch long, thick, hairless, with rounded teeth. Twigs covered with resin dots. Inflorescence a catkin. Fruits cone- like. HABITAT: Muskegs, swamps, wet areas, rocky alpine slopes, tundra. 16 Cassiope mertensiana Mertens cassiope CAME7 Ericaceae HABIT: Evergreen mat-forming shrub, 2-12 inches. KEY CHARACTERS: Leaves opposite, in 4 rows, % inch long, scale-like, completely covering stem. Flowers white to pink, sev- eral per stem, solitary, from leaf bases. Fruit % inch diameter, round, upright cap- sules. HABITAT: To 3900 feet. Mountain mead- ows, slopes adjacent to snowfields. Cassiope stelleriana CAST33 Steller’s cassiope Ericaceae HABIT: Evergreen, mat-forming shrub, 2-4 inches. KEY CHARACTERS: Leaves alternate, spreading, % inch long, needle-like. Flowers white to pinkish, 1 per stem, terminal. Fruit V% inch diameter, round, upright capsules. HABITAT: To 6000 feet. Forests near tree- line, heaths, snow depressions, protected slopes. 17 Cassiope tetragona CATE 11 four-angled cassiope Ericaceae HABIT: Dwarf shrub. KEY CHARACTERS: Coarse, dark green, leaves in 4 rows, lance-shaped, deeply grooved and slightly hairy. Bell- shaped corolla. HABITAT: Dry heaths and rocks on tundra or in the mountains, to at least 6500 feet. Common in the North. Cladothamnus pyrolaeflorus CLPY3 copperbush Ericaceae HABIT: Deciduous upright shrub, YA-AVi feet. KEY CHARACTERS: Leaves whorled, in clusters, light green above, white under- neath, with pointed tip and nearly no peti- ole. Flowers copper colored, few, terminal, with long, curved style. Fruit %-\A inch diameter round capsules. HABITAT: At and above treeline, and cold sites at lower elevations. Open forests, meadows, streambanks, openings. Generally with Mountain hemlock. 18 Diapensia lapponica diapensia DILA Diapensiaceae HABIT: Evergreen prostrate shrub, 1-3 inches. KEY CHARACTERS: Leaves alternate, thick, fleshy, crowded and overlapping, with one vein. Flowers white, % inch across, solitary, upright. Fruit lA inch diameter, egg- shaped, upright capsules. X3A HABITAT: Rocky alpine areas. Dryas octopetala DROC white mountain-avens Rosaceae HABIT: Evergreen, decumbent or mat-forming shrub, 1-5 inches. KEY CHARACTERS: Leaves alternate, shiny green above, white woolly and with scales and hairs on midvein underneath, edges rolled under, with rounded teeth and sunken veins. Flowers white, solitary, on long, leafless stalks, stalks woolly, sepals with long, dark glands. Fruit nutlets with long plumes. HABITAT: Forests, heaths, tundra. 19 Echinopanax horridum devil’s club ECH02 Araliaceae HABIT: Deciduous, with few long, prickly, decumbent branches, 2-10 feet. KEY CHARACTERS: Leaves alternate, 1-2 feet long, 5-7 lobed, spiny. Branches with stout prickles. Flowers in terminal spike. Fruit red berries. HABITAT: Moist forests, under alder, on good Sitka spruce sites, in subalpine with mountain hemlock. Empetrum nigrum EMNI crowberry Empetraceae HABIT: Evergreen, mat-forming shrub, 3-6 inches. KEY CHARACTERS: Leaves 4 in a whorl or alternate, needle-like, with white groove underneath. Flowers inconspicuous. Fruits berry-like, black. HABITAT: Sea level to alpine. Forests, muskegs, rocky alpine slopes. 20 Juniperus communis JUC06 common juniper Cupressaceae HABIT: Evergreen spreading shrub, 1-2 feet. KEY CHARACTERS: Needles in whorls of 3, spreading at right angle from twig, with white band above. Cones berry-like, green ripening to black. HABITAT: Dry slopes. Ledum palustre subsp. decumbens LEPAD narrow-leaf Labrador-tea Ericaceae HABIT: Evergreen low shrub, 1-2 feet. KEY CHARACTERS: Leaves alternate, shorter than 1 inch, less than 1/8 inch wide, with edges rolled under and reddish-brown woolly hairs underneath. Flowers white, lA inch across, in terminal clusters, with 10 stamens. Flower stalks with short white hairs. Fruit %- % inch long, oval capsules. HABITAT: To 5400 feet. Black spruce forests, heaths, muskegs. 21 Ledum palustre subsp. groenlandicum LEPAG Greenland Labrador-tea Ericaceae HABIT: Evergreen low shrub, to 3 feet. KEY CHARACTERS: Leaves alternate, 1-2 inches long, greater than A inch wide, fragrant, with edges rolled under and red- dish-brown woolly hairs underneath. Flowers white, % inch across, in terminal clusters, fragrant, with 8 stamens. Flower stalks with reddish hairs. Fruit lA inch long capsules. HABITAT: Black spruce forests, birch forests, with white spruce near treeline, muskegs. Linnaea borealis LIB 03 twinflower Caprifoliaceae HABIT: Evergreen, creeping, 1^1 inches. KEY CHARACTERS: Leaves opposite, roundish, leathery, with 1-3 teeth on each side. Flowers white to rose, fragrant, nod- ding, in terminal pairs on upright stems. Fruits hairy. HABITAT: Forests, heaths. 22 Loiseleuria procumbens LOPR alpine azalea Ericaceae HABIT: Evergreen mat forming much branched shrub, 1-2 inches. KEY CHARACTERS: Leaves opposite, white underneath, edges rolled under, leath- ery. Flowers pink, A inch across, terminal, upright. Fruit A inch diameter, round, upright, 2-3 parted capsules. HABITAT: Well-drained acidic alpine tun- dra. x% Luetkea pectinata LUPE luetkea Rosaceae HABIT: Creeping shrub with upright leafy stems, 2-6 inches. KEY CHARACTERS: Leaves crowded at base of stems, alternate along stem, fan- shaped, with many narrow divisions. Flowers white, in terminal cluster. Fruit pod-like. HABITAT: Forests near treeline, alpine and subalpine meadows near snow. x% 23 Malus fusca Oregon crab apple MAFU Rosaceae HABIT: Deciduous large shrub or small tree with several thorny stems, to 25 feet. KEY CHARACTERS: Leaves alternate, toothed, pale and hairy underneath, often with 3 lobes. White or pink, few-flowered inflorescences. Fruits apple-like, yellow or red. HABITAT: Moist forests, meadows, stream- banks, beach forests. Menziesia ferruginea MEFE rusty menziesia Ericaceae HABIT: Deciduous spreading to upright shrub 3-10 feet. KEY CHARACTERS: Leaves alternate, gray-green with brown hairs above, white with sticky hairs underneath. Twigs with odor when crushed. Flowers yellowish-red, several, terminal. Fruit lA inch long 4-parted capsules, persistent through winter. HABITAT: Moist forests, openings, under spruce-hemlock and spruce-birch. 24 Myrica gale MYGA sweetgale Myricaceae HABIT: Deciduous low shrub, 1^4- feet. KEY CHARACTERS: Leaves alternate, toothed toward tip, with yellow waxy glands and gray-green pubescence. Twigs with yellow resin dots. Flowers yellowish, inconspicuous, blooming before leaves appear. Fruit small, waxy, 2-winged, green nutlets. HABITAT: Coastal meadows, muskegs, swamps, shallow water, tidal flats. Oxycoccus microcarpus OXMI3 bog cranberry Ericaceae HABIT: Evergreen creeping vine-like shrub, 1-3 inches. KEY CHARACTERS: Leaves alternate, %-A inch long, dark green above, white underneath, with edges rolled under. Twigs very slender. Flowers pink, solitary, on long, leafless stalks, nodding, with petals bent backward. Fruit red berries. HABITAT: Muskegs, alpine meadows. 25 Phyllodoce aleutica PHAL4 Aleutian mountain heath Ericaceae HABIT: Evergreen mat-forming shrub, 2-6 inches. KEY CHARACTERS: Leaves crowded on upper 2^1 inches of stem, needle-like, toothed, with a pale groove and hairs underneath. Twigs with peg-like leaf scars. Flowers yellowish, several, terminal, may have glandular hairs. Fruit % inch long, oval, 5-parted capsules. HABITAT: Sea level to alpine. Moraines and outwash at sea level, heaths, protected slopes adjacent to snow fields. Potentilla fruticosa POFR4 shrubby cinquefoil Rosaceae HABIT: Deciduous spreading to upright much-branched shrub, 1-4 feet. KEY CHARACTERS: Leaves alternate, with 3-7 leaflets, green above, grayish and silvery hairy underneath. Flowers yellow, %-VA inches across, upright, solitary, from leaf bases or in terminal clusters. Fruit white-haired achenes. HABITAT: To 4500 feet. Forests, muskegs, wet soil, rocky slopes. 26 Ribes bracteosum stink currant RIBR Saxifragaceae HABIT: Deciduous ascending or upright shrub, 3-6 feet. KEY CHARACTERS: Leaves alternate, 5-7 lobed, singly or doubly toothed. Skunky odor to plant. Flowers white, green- ish, or purplish, with hairy and glandular ovary. Racemes upright, 3-12 inches long. Fruit glandular, disagreeable-tasting, black berries. HABITAT: Forests, streambanks, with alder in spruce-hemlock forests. xy3 Ribes glandulosum RIGL skunk currant Saxifragaceae HABIT: Deciduous, ascending shrub. KEY CHARACTERS: Smooth, deeply heart-shaped leaves, 5-7 lobed, sharp-point- ed, doubly serrate. Whitish or pink flowers. Red fruit, with the odor of skunk. HABITAT: Woods, rocky slopes in the low- lands. 27 Ribes hudsonianum RIHU northern black currant Saxifragaceae HABIT: Deciduous upright shrub, 3-6 feet. KEY CHARACTERS: Leaves alternate, 3-5 lobed, toothed. Flowers white with yel- low-dotted ovary. Racemes ascending or spreading, \-2xA inches long. Fruit smooth or glandular, bitter but edible black berries, with bloom. HABITAT: Moist forests, streambanks, at treeline with alder, with spruce, birch, and aspen. Ribes lacustre RILA bristly black currant Saxifragaceae HABIT: Deciduous spreading to upright spiny shrub, 2-4 feet. KEY CHARACTERS: Leaves alternate, with 3-5 lobes, the lobes again lobed or toothed. Twigs spiny. Flowers pink, spread- ing or drooping racemes. Fruit palatable dark purple berries with gland- tipped hairs. HABITAT: Moist forests, streambanks, with white spruce and Sitka spruce. 28 Ribes laxiflorum trailing black currant RILA3 Saxifragaceae HABIT: Deciduous decumbent to upright shrub, sometimes vine-like, to 2 feet. KEY CHARACTERS: Leaves alternate, blades 2^-3 inches-long, doubly toothed, with 5 lobes. Flowers red to purplish, ovary with hairs and stalked glands, sepals hairy on back. Racemes ascending or upright, 4-6 inches long, with 6-20 flowers. Fruit foul smelling, edible, purplish-black berries, with bloom and stalked glands. HABITAT: Moist forests, open meadows, wet areas, spruce-hemlock forests. XV4 Ribes triste RITR northern red currant Saxifragaceae HABIT: Deciduous prostrate to erect shrub, 2-3 feet. KEY CHARACTERS: Leaves alternate, with 3-5 lobes, toothed. Flowers purple, with smooth ovary. Racemes 2 -4 inches long. Fruit ovoid, smooth, palatable, bright red, translucent berries. HABITAT: Lowlands to treeline. Spruce forests, streambanks, wet meadows. 29 Rosa acicularis prickly rose ROAC Rosaceae HABIT: Deciduous much-branched spiny shrub, 1-4 feet. KEY CHARACTERS: Leaves alternate, toothed, with 3-7 leaflets. Twigs and branches with prickles and spines. Flowers rose to pink, \Vi-2Va inches across, usually solitary, terminal. Fruit dark red to purplish hips. HABITAT: Open forests, meadows, thick- ets, muskegs, with aspen on burns. Rubus idaeus RUID raspberry Rosaceae HABIT: Deciduous upright prickly biennial shrub, 2-4 feet. KEY CHARACTERS: Leaves alternate, whitish underneath, toothed, with 3-5 leaflets. Twigs and branches with prickles. Flowers white, Vi inch across, 1-4 in raceme, with sepals bent backward. Fruit red, % inch long. HABITAT: Forests, thickets. 30 Rubus spectabilis salmonberry RUSP Rosaceae HABIT: Deciduous upright somewhat prickly biennial shrub, 2-7 feet. KEY CHARACTERS: Leaves alternate, usually with 3 leaflets, the leaflets toothed to nearly lobed. Flowers pink, VA inches across, solitary or 2. Fruit red or yellow, 1 inch long. HABITAT: To lower alpine. Moist forests, streambanks, avalanche chutes, sideslopes, and ravines. xy3 Salix alaxensis SAAL feltleaf willow Salicaceae HABIT: Shrub or small tree, up to 20-25 feet. KEY CHARACTERS: Young twigs woolly. Leaves tear- shaped with dense white felt beneath. Stout, erect catkins. HABITAT: Common along creeks and rivers, to at least 6000 feet. XV4 31 Salix arctica SAAR4 arctic willow Salicaceae HABIT: Dwarf shrub. KEY CHARACTERS: Thick, smooth branches. Leaves ovate, entire, dark green above, paler beneath, slightly hairy when young but later smooth. Catkins about 1 inch long. HABITAT: Dry tundra, mostly in moun- tains. Salix barclayi SABA3 Barclay willow Salicaceae HABIT: Deciduous shrub, 6-9 feet. KEY CHARACTERS: Leaves alternate, white underneath, often toothed, turning black when dry. Buds without bud scales. Inflorescence a catkin. Fruit hairless cap- sules. HABITAT: Forest openings, streambanks, wet areas, alpine and subalpine slopes. 32 Salix commutata SAC02 undergreen willow Salicaceae HABIT: Shrub up to 6 feet. KEY CHARACTERS: Dense gray hair on young twigs. Leaves elliptical, pointed at tips, with dense gray hair on both sides when young, becoming smooth with age. HABITAT: Alpine meadows and wet areas. Salix depressa subsp. rostrata SADER Bebb willow Salicaceae HABIT: Deciduous large shrub or small tree, to 30 feet. KEY CHARACTERS: Leaves alternate, 1-3 Vi inches long, dull gray above and gray or whitish underneath, pointed at base, nearly toothless, with hairs on both sides. Twigs leave branches nearly at right angles. Buds with no bud scales. Inflorescences 1- 3 inch long catkins with short, leafy stalks appearing before or with the leaves. Fruit hairy capsules on %- %> inch long stalks. xy3 HABITAT: To subalpine. Dry areas in forests. 33 Salix hookeriana Hooker willow SAHO Salicaceae Not in Hulten (1968). See Welch (1974). HABIT: Deciduous shrub, 2-15 feet. KEY CHARACTERS: Leaves alternate, hairy on both surfaces, branches very brit- tle. Inflorescence a catkin. HABITAT: Stabilized sand dunes, wet meadows near the coast, beach ridges. Salix myrtillifolia SAMY low blueberry willow Salicaceae HABIT: Deciduous low shrub, to 3 feet. KEY CHARACTERS: Leaves alternate, green on both surfaces, often drying brown- ish. HABITAT: Muskegs, fens, wet lake mar- gins and river banks. 34 Salix pulchra S APU 1 5 tealeaf willow Salicaceae HABIT: Deciduous shrub, to 6 feet. KEY CHARACTERS: Leaves alternate, green above, whitish below. Previous years leaves often persisting as brown, withered remains. HABITAT: Alpine tundra, coniferous wood- lands, shrub thickets along streams and lakes. Salix reticulata SARE2 netleaf willow Salicaceae HABIT: Deciduous prostrate shrub, 2-3 inches. KEY CHARACTERS: Leaves alternate, dark green, leathery, distinctly net- veined, with edges rolled under. Inflorescence an upright catkin, to 2 inches long. Fruit cap- sules with white hairs. HABITAT: Dry and moist tundra. 35 Salix rotundifolia SAR02 least willow Salicaceae HABIT: Dwarf shrub, forming mats. KEY CHARACTERS: Very thin, slightly hairy annual shoots. Small, leathery, round or ovate leaves, entire with lateral veins raised on both sides. Very short catkins, few-flowered. HABITAT: Arctic and alpine lichen tundra, rocky places, to at least 6500 feet. Salix sitchensis SASI2 Sitka willow Salicaceae HABIT: Shrub, up to 30 feet with trunk 12 inches in diameter. KEY CHARACTERS: Twigs hairy when young, more or less smooth with age. Leaves oblong or tear-shaped, with silky hairs. Long, slender catkins, densely flow- ered. HABITAT: Along streams and shores and wet areas. 36 Sambucus racemosa elderberry SARA2 Caprifoliaceae HABIT: Deciduous clump-forming shrub, 6-12 feet. KEY CHARACTERS: Leaves opposite, 5-10 inches long, toothed, hairy under- neath, with 5-7 leaflets. Unpleasant odor to crushed leaves or twigs. Flowers small, white, in a terminal pyramidal inflores- cences. Fruit small red drupes. Bark brown and warty. HABITAT: Forests, thickets with alder or willow, streambanks, subalpine meadows. Shepherdia canadensis SHCA buffaloberry Elaeagnaceae HABIT: Deciduous shrub, to 6 feet. KEY CHARACTERS: Leaves opposite, green above, with reddish scales under- neath. Twigs with brownish scales. Flowers small, yellowish or brownish. Fruit berry- like, yellow or red, lA inch long. HABITAT: To 3600 feet. Well-drained forests, gravel bars, with aspen on bums. 37 Sibbaldia procumbens SIPR creeping sibbaldia Rosaceae HABIT: Mat forming, 2-6 inches. KEY CHARACTERS: Leaves with 3 leaflets, 3-toothed at apex, hairy on both surfaces. Flowers inconspicuous with pale yellow petals. HABITAT: Alpine tundra, open woods in the subalpine zone. Sorbus scopulina SOSC2 western mountain-ash Rosaceae HABIT: Deciduous many-stemmed shrub, 3-13 feet, or small tree to 20 feet. KEY CHARACTERS: Leaves alternate, singly or doubly toothed, pointy at tip, with 11-13 leaflets. Buds sticky. Buds and twigs with white hairs. Flowers white, in termi- nal, rounded inflorescences. Fruit apple- like, orange to red, less than % inch in diameter. HABITAT: Forests, subalpine. 38 Sorbus sitchensis S0SI2 Sitka mountain-ash Rosaceae HABIT: Deciduous shrub, 4-8 feet, or small tree, to 20 feet. KEY CHARACTERS: Leaves alternate, toothed, rounded at tip, with 7-11 leaflets. Buds and twigs with brown hairs. Twigs with odor and bitter taste of cherry. Flowers white, fragrant, in terminal rounded inflo- rescences. Fruits apple-like, red with bluish bloom, lA inch in diameter. HABITAT: Sea level to timberline. Spiraea beauverdiana SPBE Beauverd spiraea Rosaceae HABIT: Deciduous low to midsize many- branched shrub, 1-2 feet. KEY CHARACTERS: Leaves alternate, toothed especially toward tip. Young branches reddish-brown. Flowers white or pink in a flat-topped or hemispheric inflo- rescence. Fruit pod-like, persistent through winter. HABITAT: Low elevation to alpine. Forests, meadows, black spruce muskegs, tundra. x% 39 Vaccinium alaskensis VAAL Alaska blueberry Ericaceae HABIT: Deciduous spreading to upright shrub, up to 6 feet. KEY CHARACTERS: Leaves alternate, with small teeth in lower half or no teeth, glands on mid vein underneath. Flowers pink, solitary, from leaf bases, appearing with leaves or after leaves partially devel- oped. Fruit blue-black berries, usually with- out bloom. Fruit stalk straight, enlarged below fruit, often longer than 3A inch. HABITAT: Spruce-hemlock forests on the coast, especially in openings. Vaccinium caespitosum VACA13 dwarf blueberry Ericaceae HABIT: Deciduous spreading much- branched shrub, 4-16 inches. KEY CHARACTERS: Leaves alternate, toothed. Flowers pink to white, solitary, from leaf bases. Fruit blue to black berries. HABITAT: Open forests, muskegs. 40 Vaccinium ovalifolium VAOV early blueberry Ericaceae HABIT: Deciduous spreading shrub, to 5 feet. KEY CHARACTERS: Leaves alternate, usually with no teeth or glands. Largest leaves at end of twigs. Flowers pink, soli- tary, from leaf bases, longer than broad, appearing before or with leaves. Fruit bluish or blue-black berries, with whitish bloom. Fruit stalk curved, not enlarged below fruit, usually shorter than % inch. HABITAT: To subalpine. Forests, muskegs, openings. Vaccinium uliginosum VAUL bog blueberry Ericaceae HABIT: Deciduous prostrate to upright much-branched shrub, 8-16 inches. KEY CHARACTERS: Leaves alternate, pale and distinctly veined underneath, leathery. Flowers pink, terminal or from leaf bases. Fruit blue-black berries with bluish bloom. HABITAT: Open forests, heaths, muskegs. 41 Vaccinium vitis-idaea lowbush cranberry VAVI Ericaceae HABIT: Evergreen creeping mat-forming shrub, 2-6 inches. KEY CHARACTERS: Leaves alternate, edges slightly rolled under, shiny, leathery, with dark dots and brown hairs underneath. Flowers pink, terminal. Fruit red berries. HABITAT: Spruce and birch forests, muskegs, tundra, dry alpine slopes, acidic poorly drained soil. xy2 Viburnum edule VIED highbush cranberry Caprifoliaceae HABIT: Deciduous ascending many- stemmed shrub, 2-8 feet. KEY CHARACTERS: Leaves opposite, 3-lobed, toothed. Buds dark red-brown. Flowers white, in dense terminal clusters. Fruit red-orange drupes. HABITAT: Forests, thickets, muskegs, streambanks, beaches, tidal meadows. 42 FORBS 43 Achillea borealis yarrow ACBO Compositae HABIT: To 3 feet. KEY CHARACTERS: Leaves alternate, 2-3 times pinnately divided, woolly, fra- grant. Stem hairy. Flowers white, in several terminal clusters. Fruit hairless achenes. HABITAT: To 5400 feet. Forests, meadows, sandy slopes, beaches. Aconitum delphinifolium ACDE2 monkshood Ranunculaceae HABIT: Thin, straight, to 3-50 inches. KEY CHARACTERS: Leaves alternate, rounded in outline, palmately 5-lobed, hair- less, few. Flowers dark blue, hooded, in few-flowered terminal raceme. Fruit folli- cles. Poisonous. HABITAT: To alpine. Meadows, stream- banks. 45 Actaea rubra ACRU2 baneberry Ranunculaceae HABIT: Branched, 1-3 feet. KEY CHARACTERS: Leaves alternate, ternate, toothed. No basal leaves. Flowers white, in a terminal raceme. Fruit red or white pea-sized berries. HABITAT: Forests, streambanks, open slopes, beaches. Anemone narcissiflora ANNA narcissus anemone Ranunculaceae HABIT: 2-25 inches. KEY CHARACTERS: Basal leaves round- ed in outline, palmately compound, the leaflets with many divisions. Stem leaves whorled. Stems and leaves often hairy. Flowers large, white to creamy white, few to several per stem, terminal. Fruit hairless achenes. HABITAT: Meadows, snowbeds in tundra. 46 Anemone richardsonii ANRI yellow anemone Ranunculaceae HABIT: 2-12 inches. KEY CHARACTERS: Leaves from rhi- zome, rounded, palmately 3-lobed, the lobes divided and toothed. Stem leaves in single whorl, with no petiole. Flowers yel- low, solitary, terminal. Fruit hairless ach- enes with very long beak. Poisonous. HABITAT: Meadows, snowbeds. XV2 Angelica genuflexa ANGE2 bent-leaved angelica Umbelliferae HABIT: 2 -4Y2 feet. KEY CHARACTERS: Stem leaves alter- nate, temate to bipinnate, toothed, bending downward, with hairy edges and viens. Stem hollow, often purple. Flowers white to pinkish, in terminal umbel. Fruits with lat- eral wings. HABITAT: Meadows, swamps, stream- banks, wet areas, beaches. 47 Angelica lucida seacoast angelica HABIT: To 3 feet. ANLU Umbelliferae KEY CHARACTERS: Stem leaves alter- nate, 2-3 times temate, toothed, with inflat- ed petiole. Flowers greenish-white, in ter- minal umbel. Fruits with all ribs narrowly winged. HABITAT: Meadows, thickets, wet areas, beaches. Antennaria monocephala ANM09 pygmy pussytoes Compositae HABIT: Mat forming, with stolons, 1-6 inches tall. KEY CHARACTERS: Basal leaves inches long, grayish hairy to hairless below, mostly hairless above. Flower heads soli- tary. HABITAT: Alpine tundra. 48 Apargidium boreale APBO apargidium Compositae HABIT: 4-20 inches. KEY CHARACTERS: Leaves 2-10 inches long, Yio-'A inches wide. Petals yellow, often drying whitish or pinkish. HABITAT: Wet meadows. Aquilegia formosa AQFO western columbine Ranunculaceae HABIT: Branched, 1-3 feet. KEY CHARACTERS: Leaves mostly basal, white underneath, twice temate. Stem leaves alternate. Flowers with red sepals and spurs with yellow petals. Flowers 2-4 per stem, terminal, nodding. Fruit hairy fol- licles. HABITAT: Moist forests, meadows, open areas, beaches. 49 Arabis lyrata ARLY2 lyreleaved rockcress Crucifer ae HABIT: Branched, to 8 inches. KEY CHARACTERS: Basal leaves red- dish-purple, lyre-shaped to pinnately divid- ed. Stem leaves alternate, dull purple, pin- nately divided to linear. Flowers white or pink, few to several in terminal raceme. Fruit hairless capsules (siliques). HABITAT: Moist stony places, scree slopes. Arnica latifolia ARLA8 broadleaf arnica Compositae HABIT: 4-25 inches. KEY CHARACTERS: Basal leaves smaller than the stem leaves, basal leaves usually withered by flowering time, stem leaves %-4 inches long and 14-3 inches wide, usu- ally toothed, petiole shorter than the blades. Flowers yellow, 1-5 per plant. Fruit ach- enes. HABITAT: Open woods, meadows, heath. 50 Artemisia arctica ARAR9 boreal sagebrush Compositae HABIT: Stems from a stout, woody base with short runners. KEY CHARACTERS: Leaves at base bip- innately dissected into about 5-7 pairs, with linear, pointed, ultimate lobes. Stem leaves are reduced. Nodding dense cluster of flow- ers, the lower long-stalked. Yellow, fuzzy, disc flowers. Smooth fruit. HABITAT: Meadows, in the mountains to 6500 feet. Artemisia tilesii ARTI Aleutian mugwort Compositae HABIT: 1-4 feet. KEY CHARACTERS: Leaves alternate, 1-2 times pinnately divided, hairy under- neath. Flowers yellow, tinged with red, numerous nodding heads in spike-like inflo- rescences. Fruit hairless achenes. HABITAT: Lowlands to mountains. Roadsides, gravelly or sandy areas. 51 Aruncus Sylvester goatsbeard HABIT: 3-6 feet. ARSYA Rosaceae KEY CHARACTERS: Leaves alternate, ternate, doubly toothed. Flowers white, sev- eral in terminal clusters. Fruit upright folli- cles. HABITAT: Moist forests, meadows, stream- banks. XV 7 Boschniakia rossica BORO ground-cone Orobanchaceae HABIT: Cone-like, 4-16 inches. KEY CHARACTERS: Leaves scale-like, yellowish to purplish. Flowers purplish, several in terminal inflorescence. HABITAT: Forests, beaches. Commonly found under alder stands. Parasitic on alder roots. 52 Callitriche hermaphroditica CAHE2 northern waterstarwort Callitrichaceae HABIT: Slender plants, 2-10 inches long. KEY CHARACTERS: Linear 1-veined leaves with indentation at tip. Fruit with conspicuous wings. Plant dark green. HABITAT: Submerged in shallow ponds. Callitriche verna CAVE2 spring waterstarwort Callitrichaceae HABIT: Slender plants, 2-10 inches long. KEY CHARACTERS: Linear 1-veined leaves with indentation at tip. Fruit not dis- tinctly winged. Plant light green. HABITAT: Floating in shallow ponds, mud. x% 53 | Caltha palustris CAPA5 yellow marsh-marigold Ranunculaceae HABIT: Decumbent, 4-24 inches. KEY CHARACTERS: Leaves basal and on stem, toothed. Stem hollow. Flowers yel- low, often greenish or purplish on back, solitary, terminal, with 5-8 petal-like sepa- ls. Fruit follicles, with hooked beak. Poisonous. HABITAT: Slow running water, moist places. Campanula lasiocarpa CALA7 mountain harebell Campanulaceae HABIT: Stems from thin, branching rhi- zomes. KEY CHARACTERS: Leaves at base are long-stalked, tear-shaped and pointed, entire or usually coarsely dentate. Stem leaves are not stalked and are gradually reduced. Single, large blue flowers with lin- ear, pointed, narrow-lobed segments. HABITAT: Alpine heaths, sandy tundra, in the mountains to at least 5000 feet. 54 Campanula rotundifolia CAR02 bluebells of Scotland Campanulaceae HABIT: One to several prostrate to upright stems, to 8 inches. KEY CHARACTERS: Leaves narrow, with few teeth. Flowers purplish-blue, solitary, terminal. Sepals bent backward. Fruit nod- ding capsules. HABITAT: Open areas, grassy slopes, rock outcrops along coast. Cardamine umbellata CAUM3 little western bittercress Cruciferae HABIT: To 20 inches. KEY CHARACTERS: Basal leaves with 1-3 pairs of leaflets and a 3-lobed terminal leaflet. Stem leaves alternate, with narrower leaflets. Flowers small, white, in terminal inflorescence. Fruit long, thin capsules (siliques). HABITAT: Wet areas, disturbed areas. 55 Castilleja unalas chcensis CAUN4 Alaska Indian paintbrush Scrophulariaceae HABIT: 8-32 inches. KEY CHARACTERS: Stem leaves pubes- cent, with 3-5 veins. No basal leaves. Flower bracts yellowish, lobed, at top of stem. Fruit capsules. HABITAT: Open forests, meadows, tidal flats. Cicuta douglasii CIDO western water hemlock Umbelliferae HABIT: Stout with single stems, or a few together, from tuberous and chambered roots. KEY CHARACTERS: Leaves 1-3 pinnate with serrate, oblong leaflets. Several umbels of flowers with 12-20 rays. Fruit ovate to circular. Poisonous. HABITAT: Marshes, along streams. XV4 56 Cicuta mackenzieana CIMA Mackenzie’s water hemlock Umbelliferae HABIT: Stout, single stems or a few together, from tuberous roots. KEY CHARACTERS: Leaves 1-3 pinnate, leaflets lanceolate and thin. Several umbels of flowers with 7-14 rays. Ripe fruit much broader than long. Poisonous. HABITAT: Marshes. Circaea alpina CIAL enchanter’s nightshade Onagraceae HABIT: 2-10 inches. i KEY CHARACTERS: Leaves opposite, ► toothed. Flowers white to pink, in racemes, petals 2-lobed. Fruits covered with soft bristles. I HABITAT: Moist forests, streambanks, ( seeps, with Sitka alder along beaches. \ \ ) > > i 57 Coeloglossum viride C0VI6 longbract frog orchid Orchidaceae HABIT: Single upright stem, 2M-25 inches. KEY CHARACTERS: Stems with several leaves. Flowers green to yellowish green in several to many-flowered raceme. HABITAT: Tundra, heath, woods, mead- ows. J Conioselinum chinense COCHP western hemlock-parsley Umbelliferae HABIT: 6-40 inches. KEY CHARACTERS: Leaves alternate, 2-3 times pinnately compound, leaflets again lobed, with inflated petiole. Flowers white, in umbels. Fruits with lateral wings. HABITAT: Meadows, sandy shores. 58 Coptis aspleniifolia COAS fern leaf goldthread Ranunculaceae HABIT: Evergreen, 4-14 inches. KEY CHARACTERS: Leaves basal, toothed, with 5 leaflets. Flowers white, 1-3 per plant, on long leafless stem. Fruit folli- cles, speading in wheel-shape. HABITAT: Forests, muskegs, moist places. Coptis trifolia COTR2 trifoliate goldthread Ranunculaceae HABIT: Evergreen, 2-6 inches. KEY CHARACTERS: Leaves pale below, toothed, shiny, with 3 leaflets. Flowers white, solitary, on long leafless stem. Fruit follicles. HABITAT: Forests, meadows, muskegs, tundra. 59 Cornus canadensis COCA 13 bunchberry Comaceae HABIT: 2-8 inches. KEY CHARACTERS: Leaves 4-6 in a ter- minal whorl with 1-2 pairs much smaller, opposite stem leaves below. Flower bracts white, petal-like. Fruit clustered red berries. HABITAT: Spruce and birch forests, muskegs. Delphinium glaucum DEGL3 larkspur Ranunculaceae HABIT: 1/2-5 feet. KEY CHARACTERS: Leaves alternate, palmately 5-7 lobed, the lobes divided and toothed. Flowers dark violet-purple, spurred, in many-flowered terminal raceme. Fruit hairless follicles. HABITAT: Wet meadows, streambanks. 60 Dodecatheon pulchellum DOPU pretty shooting star Primulaceae HABIT: 5-24 inches. KEY CHARACTERS: Leaves basal, thick, with long, winged petiole. Flowers pur- plish-lavender with a yellow ring at base, several per long leafless stem. Fruit ovoid capsules. HABITAT: Muskegs, open areas, saline meadows. Drosera rotundifolia DRRO round-leaf sundew Droseraceae HABIT: 3 inches. KEY CHARACTERS: Leaves in basal rosettes, nearly round, lying flat on the ground, with sticky red-stalked glands. Flowers white, several in leafless long- stemmed inflorescence. Fruit capsules. HABITAT: Muskegs, swamps, wet areas. 61 Epilobium adenocaulon EPAD northern willow herb Onagraceae HABIT: Upright, branched. 4-30 inches KEY CHARACTERS: Leaves mostly opposite, toothed. Flowers small, white to red. Fruit capsules. HABITAT: Disturbed sites, roadsides. Epilobium anagalladifolium EPAN4 alpine willow herb Onagraceae HABIT: Low-growing, single stem, 4-6 inches. KEY CHARACTERS: Leaves opposite, small. Flowers small, reddish- violet to pink. Fruit capsules. HABITAT: Moist places. x% 62 Epilobium angustifolium EPAN2 tall fireweed Onagraceae HABIT: Unbranched, lVi-5 feet. KEY CHARACTERS: Leaves alternate, pale and distinctly veined underneath. Stem densely leafy. Flowers large, lilac-purple, in terminal raceme. Fruit hairy capsules, 1-4 inches long. HABITAT: Forests, meadows, gravel bars, beach fringe, burned areas. Epilobium glandulosum EPGL4 fringed willow herb Onagraceae HABIT: 10-40 inches. KEY CHARACTERS: Stems single or branched in upper portion of plant. Leaves mostly opposite, serrate. Petals pink to pur- plish. HABITAT: Moist sites in woods, thickets, meadows, and beaches. 63 Epilobium hornemannii EPHO Homemann’s willow herb Onagraceae HABIT: VAr-10 inches. KEY CHARACTERS: Stems mostly sin- gle. Leaves mostly opposite (the upper ones may be alternate), sparsely serrate. Petals lilac-pink. HABITAT: Near seeps and springs, along streams, in moist meadows, bogs. X'/2 Epilobium latifolium EPLA dwarf fireweed Onagraceae HABIT: Decumbent, 4-12 inches. KEY CHARACTERS: Leaves alternate, whitish, finely pubescent, fleshy, not veiny. Flowers large, purple or rose, numerous from leaf bases. Fruit purplish hairy cap- sules. HABITAT: To 6000 feet. Meadows, steam- banks, river bars, scree slopes. 64 Epilobium leptocarpum EPLE slenderfruit willow herb Onagraceae HABIT: Many branched, usually less than 4 inches. KEY CHARACTERS: Leaves mostly opposite, few teeth. Petals whitish to pink. HABITAT: Moist places. r- Epilobium palustre EPPA swamp willow herb Onagraceae HABIT: Branched or unbranched, 4-16 inches. KEY CHARACTERS: Leaves opposite low on stem, alternate high on stem, narrow, with no petiole. Flowers small, pink or whitish. Fruit hairy capsules. HABITAT: Meadows, muskegs, steam- banks, wet places. 65 Erigeron peregrinus ERPE3 subalpine fleabane Compositae HABIT: 2-24 inches. KEY CHARACTERS: Leaves alternate, with hairy edges and no petiole. Flowers white, pink, purple, or blue, usually 1 per plant and solitary, terminal. Fruit achenes. HABITAT: Open forests, meadows, muskegs, alpine. xy2 Fauria crista-galli FACR deer cabbage Gentianaceae HABIT: 8-12 inches. KEY CHARACTERS: Leaves basal, kid- ney-shaped, fleshy, with rounded teeth and slightly notched tip. Flowers white, in leaf- less long-stemmed inflorescence. Fruit cap- sules. HABITAT: Open forests, muskegs, swamps, wet meadows, seeps. 66 Frag aria chiloensis beach strawberry FRCH Rosaceae HABIT: Plant with stout rhizomes and long, brown stolons. KEY CHARACTERS: Thick leaves with three leaflets, coarsely serrate, the upper surface green and shiny, the lower surface pale and usually hairy. Petals white. Fruit mostly at least A inches in diameter. HABITAT: Along the coast in woods, meadows, and gravelly beaches. Fritillaria camschatcensis FRCA5 chocolate lily Liliaceae HABIT: 8-24 inches. KEY CHARACTERS: Leaves 5-9 in a whorl. Flowers purple-black, 1 -several per stem, terminal, nodding, with unpleasant odor. Fruit capsules. HABITAT: Meadows, tide flats. 67 Galium boreale northern bedstraw GAB 02 Rubiaceae HABIT: Upright, branched, 8-32 inches. KEY CHARACTERS: Leaves 4 in a whorl, rounded at the tip, with 3 veins and no peti- ole. Stems square. Flowers white to cream, several in terminal inflorescences. Fruit with hairs. HABITAT: Meadows, rocky slopes. Galium trifidum GATR2 threepetal bedstraw Rubiaceae HABIT: Weak, slender, branched stems with upper intemodes rough to the touch, from slender rhizome. KEY CHARACTERS: Leaves in whorls of 4, linear to oblong, blunt and bent down- ward. Whitish, lobed flowers, single or 3 together. Smooth fruit. HABITAT: Wet places. 68 Galium triflorum GATR3 fragrant bedstraw Rubiaceae HABIT: Perennial, sprawling, 8-^-0 inches long. KEY CHARACTERS: Leaves 6 in a whorl, pointed at tip, with 1 vein and no petiole. Stems square and bristly. Flowers green- ish-white, several per plant, usually 3 per stalk, from leaf bases. Fruits with hairs and prickles. HABITAT: Moist forests, thickets, open areas. Gentiana douglasiana GEDO swamp gentian Gentianaceae HABIT: Branched, 2-1 1 inches. KEY CHARACTERS: Leaves opposite. Flowers white, bluish on outside, solitary, or in inflorescence, terminal or from leaf bases. Fruit oblong stalkless capsules. HABITAT: Muskegs, wet meadows, alpine. 69 Gentiana glauca pale gentian HABIT: 1-6 inches GEGL Gentianaceae KEY CHARACTERS: Smooth, yellow- ish-green leaves in clusters. Stem leaves in 1-3 pairs, elliptical to rounded. Inner flower blue, dark blue, or greenish-blue with ovate, obtuse lobes. HABITAT: Meadows in the alpine and sub- alpine zones, to at least 5000 feet. Gentiana platypetala GEPL spotted gentian Gentianaceae HABIT: 4-14 inches. KEY CHARACTERS: Leaves opposite, with no petiole. No basal leaves. Flowers blue, mostly solitary, terminal, with no stalk. Fruit oblong capsules. HABITAT: Sea level to alpine. Wet mead- ows, grassy slopes. 70 Geocaulon lividum northern comandra GELI2 Santalaceae HABIT: To 6 inches. KEY CHARACTERS: Leaves alternate, often bi-colored. No basal leaves. Flowers inconspicuous, from leaf bases, with no petals. Fleshy orange fruits. HABITAT: Poplar flats, muskeg, dry places, tundra. Geranium erianthum GEER2 northern geranium Geraniaceae HABIT: 8-32 inches. KEY CHARACTERS: Basal leaves round in outline, palmately 3-5 lobed, pubescent, with long petiole. Stem leaves with no peti- ole. Flowers rose or violet, 3-5 in clusters. Fruit pubescent. HABITAT: Forests, meadows, streambanks, rocky areas, alpine, beaches. 71 Geum calthifolium GECA6 calthaleaf avens Rosaceae HABIT: Stems from dark, stout woody base. KEY CHARACTERS: Leaves at base fuzzy on both sides, with short, yellow hairs. Very small lower lobes and a large, orbicular end lobe. Yellow, heart-shaped flower petals. HABITAT: Wet meadows. Geum macrophyllum GEMA4 large-leaf avens Rosaceae HABIT: 1 1—40 inches. KEY CHARACTERS: Basal leaves lyre-shaped and pinnately compound, hairy. Stem leaves with fewer leaflets. Stems hairy. Flowers yellow, several in inflorescences. Fruit hairy nutlets in burr-like heads. HABITAT: Forests, muskegs, beaches. 72 Hedysarum alpinum alpine sweetvetch HEAL Leguminosae HABIT: Upright to decumbent stems, 4-40 inches tall. KEY CHARACTERS: Compound leaves with 9-23 leaflets. Flowers in raceme from 1-7 inches long. Petals pink to pink purple (rarely white). Fruits are loments with 1-4 segments. HABITAT: Alpine tundra, heath, woods. Mostly on sandy or gravelly soils. Heracleum lanatum HELA4 cow parsnip Umbelliferae HABIT: 1M-6 feet. KEY CHARACTERS: Leaves alternate, large, lobed and toothed, upper with inflat- ed sheaths. Flowers white, in umbels. Fruit with lateral wings. HABITAT: Forests, meadows, streambanks, beaches. 73 Heuchera glabra HEGL5 alpine heuchera Saxifragaceae HABIT: 6-24 inches. KEY CHARACTERS: Leaves mostly basal, 3-5 lobed, toothed. Flowers white, in long-stemmed inflorescence with 1-3 reduced leaves. Fruit capsules. HABITAT: Streambanks, moist rocks, sea cliffs, alpine meadows along seeps. Hieracium triste HITR2 woolly hawkweed Compositae HABIT: 1-10 inches. KEY CHARACTERS: Leaves at base tear- to spoon-shaped, entire with hairs in mar- gin, long-stalked, smooth above, sparsely fuzzy beneath. Large terminal flower heads, with grayish, long, soft hairs. Short, yellow ligules. HABITAT: Stony slopes. 74 Hippuris tetraphylla fourleaf marestail HITE Haloragaceae HABIT: Stem from stout, creeping rhi- zome. KEY CHARACTERS: Leaves 4-6 in a whorl, Yio-lA inches wide, entire, not point- ed, and shorter than the intemodes. HABITAT: Shallow ponds and mud flats. XV 7 Hippuris vulgaris HIVU2 common marestail Haloragaceae HABIT: Stem from stout, creeping rhizome KEY CHARACTERS: Leaves 6-12 in a whorl, linear, entire, pointed and longer than the intemodes. In submerged forms thin, pale green. Small flowers in leaf-notch of submerged leaves. HABITAT: Shallow ponds, streams, and mud flats. 75 Honckenya peploides HOPE seaside sandplant Caryophyllaceae HABIT: Forming loose to dense mats 4-30 inches broad or more, from deep taproot and horizontal stolons/rhizomes. KEY CHARACTERS: Leaves opposite, fleshy, lower leaves smaller than those of the middle stem, stem leaves 3-10 pairs or more. Flowers solitary in the upper leaf axils, petals white or greenish-white. HABITAT: Maritime beaches. Iris setosa IRSE wild iris Iridaceae HABIT: 12-28 inches. KEY CHARACTERS: Leaves sword-shaped. Flowers large, blue with dark viens, few per plant. Fruit capsules. Poisonous. HABITAT: Meadows, shores, tidal flats. 76 Lathyrus maritimus beach pea HABIT: From rhizomes. LAMA3 Leguminosae KEY CHARACTERS: Fuzzy. Leaves with 6-12 leaflets, tendrils simple to branched. Stipules leaf-like. Pink-purple flowers. HABITAT: In coastal areas on beaches, strands, and cliff bases. XV3 Lathyrus palustris LAPA4 vetchling Leguminosae HABIT: From slender rhizomes. KEY CHARACTERS: Fuzzy. Leaves with 4-8 linear leaflets, branched tendrils. Stipules much smaller than the leaflets. Winged stem. Bluish-violet flowers. HABITAT: Meadows, tidal flats, beaches, woods, lake shores. 77 Ligusticum scoticum beach lovage LISC3 Umbelliferae HABIT: Single stemmed, smooth and red- dish-violet at the base, from a thick root. KEY CHARACTERS: Thick leaves, divid- ed into threes with ovate, coarsely-toothed leaflets. Stem leaves reduced, with long, often violet, sheaths. Flowers in rays of 7-11 umbels, with white or pinkish petals. Fruit has 3 winged ribs on back. HABITAT: Seashores. Listera borealis LIB04 northern twayblade Orchidaceae HABIT: To 8 inches. KEY CHARACTERS: Leaves paired on stem. Flowers green or yellowish-green, in terminal raceme. Lowest petal with 2 broad lobes. Fruit capsules. HABITAT: Moist forests, muskegs. 78 Listera caurina western twayblade LICA10 Orchidaceae HABIT: 4-14 inches. KEY CHARACTERS: Leaves paired on stem. Flowers yellowish-green, in terminal raceme. Lowest petal rounded at tip. Fruit capsules. HABITAT: Evergreen forests. Listera cordata LIC06 heart-leaf twayblade Orchidaceae HABIT: 3-10 inches. KEY CHARACTERS: Leaves paired on stem, heart-shaped at base. Flowers green or dark purple, in terminal raceme. Lowest petal with 2 linear lobes. Fruit capsules. HABITAT: Forests. 79 Lloydia serotina LLSE common alplily Liliaceae HABIT: Upright, 2-6 inches. KEY CHARACTERS: Basal leaves linear, %- 3 inches long. Stem leaves alternate, reduced upward, linear, Ys-VA inches long. Flowers creamy white. HABITAT: Alpine tundra and heath. Lupinus nootkatensis LUNO Nootka lupine Leguminosae HABIT: 1-4 feet. KEY CHARACTERS: Leaves alternate, white to brown pubescent on both sides or hairless above, with 5-9 palmately com- pound leaflets. Flowers blue, in densely pubescent terminal raceme. Fruit peapod-like, black. Poisonous. HABITAT: Sea level to alpine. Open forests, gravel bars, dry slopes, beaches. 80 Lysichiton americanum LYAM3 skunk cabbage Araceae HABIT: 1-5 feet. KEY CHARACTERS: Leaves in basal cluster, 12-51 inches long, fleshy. Flowers small, green, in terminal spike, surrounded by yellow bract. Fruit green to red berries. With unpleasant odor. HABITAT: Wet forests, edges of muskegs, marshes, streambanks. Lysimachia thyrsiflora LYTH2 tufted loosestrife Primulaceae HABIT: Upright, 8-30 inches. KEY CHARACTERS: Lower leaves scale-like. Middle and upper leaves oppo- site, 1-6 inches long, lA-2xA inches wide, dotted with black glands. Flowers on long peduncles in dense racemes from the leaf axils. HABITAT: Along streams, lake shores, and ponds. 81 Maianthemum dilatatum MADI deerberry Liliaceae HABIT: Evergreen, 8-23 inches. KEY CHARACTERS: 2-3 alternate stem leaves, heart- to arrowhead-shaped, parallel veined. Flowers cream to white, in terminal raceme. Fruit red and white mottled berries. HABITAT: Moist forests, meadows, alder thickets, streambanks, lakeshores, open grassy beach forests. Menyanthes trifoliata METR3 buckbean Gentianaceae HABIT: Aquatic submerged, to 10 inches. KEY CHARACTERS: Leaves with 3 leaflets. Flowers white to pink, in terminal raceme, petals with long white hairs. Fruit capsules. HABITAT: Muskegs, swamps, ponds, wet meadows. 82 Mertensia paniculata MEPA chiming bells Boraginaceae HABIT: 18-30 inches. KEY CHARACTERS: Basal leaves with long, winged petiole. Stem leaves alternate, with minute petiole. Flowers blue, in leaf- less long-stemmed racemes, nodding. Fruit nutlets. HABITAT: Forests, streambanks, subalpine meadow, gravel bars. Minuartia arctica MLAR3 arctic stitchwort Caryophyllaceae HABIT: Upright, branched, to 4 inches. KEY CHARACTERS: Leaves opposite, hairy underneath and on edges. Largest leaves at middle of stem. Basal leaves nar- rowly linear. Stem hairy. Flowers white, upright, solitary or 2-5 in terminal inflores- cence. Fruit egg-shaped capsules. HABITAT: Forests, dry meadows, thickets, gravel bars, beaches. x% 83 Moehringia lateriflora MOLA6 grove sandwort Caryophyllaceae HABIT: Upright, branched, to 4 inches. KEY CHARACTERS: Leaves opposite, hairy underneath and on edges. Largest leaves at middle of stem. Stem hairy. Flowers white, upright, solitary or 2-5 in terminal inflorescence. Fruit egg-shaped capsules. HABITAT: Forests, dry meadows, thickets, gravel bars, beaches. Moneses uniflora MOUN2 single delight Pyrolaceae HABIT: 2-6 inches. KEY CHARACTERS: Leaves rounded, toothed. Flowers white, waxy, fragrant, nodding, 1 per plant, on long 1-2-bracted stalk. Fruit upright capsules. HABITAT: Dense forests on rotten wood, organic soil at low elevation. 84 Myosotis alpestris forget-me-not The Alaska State Flower MYAL Boraginaceae HABIT: To 20 inches. KEY CHARACTERS: Basal leaves pubes- cent, with long petiole. Stem leaves alter- nate, pubescent, with no petioles. Flowers blue with yellow center, in terminal inflo- rescence, upright. Fruit nutlets. HABITAT: Meadows, rocky areas, alpine and subalpine. Myriophyllum sibiricum MYSI shortspike watermilfoil Haloragaceae HABIT: Stem from elongated, creeping rhi- zome. KEY CHARACTERS: Pinnate leaves, usu- ally forming a whorl. Spike emerging above water. Female flower has small petals, male flower has larger petals. HABITAT: Shallow water. 85 Nuphar polysepala NUP02 yellow pondlily Nymphaeaceae HABIT: Stout herbaceous plant from sub- merged rhizomes. KEY CHARACTERS: Leaves with petioles to 40 inches long or longer, the blades floating to emergent, leathery, 3-10 inches long, 4-9 inches wide. Flowers yellowish to purple. HABITAT: Ponds and slowly flowing streams. Osmorhiza depauperata OSDE blunt-fruit sweet-cicely Umbelliferae HABIT: 6-28 inches. KEY CHARACTERS: Leaves alternate, 1-3 times temate, the leaflets again lobed and toothed. Flowers greenish-white or white, in umbel. Fruits club-shaped, hairy at base, Vi- 1 inch long. HABITAT: Forests. 86 Osmorhiza purpurea OSPU Sitka sweet-cicely Umbelliferae HABIT: 12-40 inches. KEY CHARACTERS: Leaves alternate, 1-3 times-temate, the leaflets again lobed and toothed. Flowers green to purple, in umbel. Fruits widest at middle, hairy, short- er than lA inch. HABITAT: Forests, steambanks. Oxytropis nigrescens OXNI blackish oxytrope Leguminosae HABIT: Tufted to loosely matted. KEY CHARACTERS: Leaves with 5-15 leaflets, leaflets hairy on both sides. Inflorescences with usually 2-3 flowers, petals purplish to blue. HABITAT: Alpine tundra, heath, stony slopes. 87 Parnassia palustris PAPA8 northern grass-of-pamassus Saxifragaceae HABIT: 4-18 inches. KEY CHARACTERS: Leaves mostly basal, with short petioles. Flowers white, 1 -several per plant, solitary, on long 1 -leaved stem. Fruit capsules. HABITAT: Heaths, wet meadows. Pedicularis capitata PECA2 capitate lousewort Scrophulariaceae HABIT: Single stem, 2-6 inches tall. KEY CHARACTERS: Leaves pinnately compound, the leaflets lobed or dissected. Inflorescence in a head of 1-8 flowers, petals cream colored. HABITAT: Alpine tundra, heath, rocky slopes. XV 2 88 Pedicularis kanei PEKA7 woolly lousewort Scrophulariaceae HABIT: Single stem, hairy in the inflores- cence, 2-10 inches tall. KEY CHARACTERS: Leaves pinnately compound, the leaflets dissected into many segments. Inflorescence elongated and many flowered, petals rose pink to lavender. HABITAT: Alpine tundra, heath, rocky areas. Pedicularis labradorica PELA Labrador lousewort Scrophulariaceae HABIT: Branched or unbranched, 6-10 inches. KEY CHARACTERS: Leaves alternate, pinnately divided. Stem with white hairs. Flowers yellow or reddish, several per plant, upper petal forming hood enclosing stamens. Fruit capsules. HABITAT: To alpine. Forests. 89 Pedicularis langsdorfii PELA3 Langsdorf’s lousewort Scrophulariaceae HABIT: Single stem, 2-9 inches tall. KEY CHARACTERS: Leaves lobed to pin- natifid, the lobes toothed or smooth. Inflorescence in an elongated head, several to many-flowered, flowers rose pink to pink-purple. HABITAT: Dry to moist tundra and heath- lands. XV 2 Pedicularis parviflora PEPA4 smallflower lousewort Scrophulariaceae HABIT: Simple stem, or mostly branched from the base. KEY CHARACTERS: Leaves along stem oblong and deeply pinnately lobed, with dentate segments. Flowers in 2 parts, rose-colored, lower lip 3-lobed and broad- er than long. HABITAT: Swamps, muskeg. 90 Pedicularis verticillata whorled lousewort PEVE Scrophulariaceae HABIT: Stems single or several, 3-16 inch- es tall. KEY CHARACTERS: Basal leaves with long petioles. Stem leaves with short peti- oles or sessile, whorled. All leaves pinnati- fid, the lobes toothed or incised. Inflorescence in a head or elongate with many flowers, flowers rose pink. HABITAT: Alpine tundra, heath, meadows, woods, rocky slopes. Petasites hyperboreus PEHY5 arctic sweet coltsfoot Compositae HABIT: Simple stems, from creeping root- stocks, with reddish scales. KEY CHARACTERS: Leaves deeply lobed into 3-5 broad, grossly toothed segments, smooth above with white fuzz beneath. Flowers purplish. HABITAT: Wet tundra, shores, along creeks. 91 Pinguicula vulgaris PIVU common butterwort Lentibulariaceae HABIT: 3-7 inches. KEY CHARACTERS: Leaves in basal rosette, shiny, fleshy. Flowers blue to violet, longer than Vi inch, 1-2 per plant, solitary, on long leafless stems, nodding, with blunt or pointy spur. Fruit spherical capsules. HABITAT: Wet areas. Plantago maritima PLMA3 goosetongue plantain Plantaginaceae HABIT: 3-7 inches. KEY CHARACTERS: Leaves linear-lance- olate in basal rosette, shiny, fleshy. Flowers blue to violet, longer than 1 inch, 1-2 per plant, solitary, on long leafless stems, nod- ding, with blunt or pointy spur. Fruit spher- ical capsules. HABITAT: Wet areas. 92 Platanthera dilatata boreal bog orchid PLDI3 Orchidaceae HABIT: Stems from fleshy, rootlike tuberoids. KEY CHARACTERS: Leaves ovate to lanceolate. Many-flowered spike with white flowers, sweet-scented. HABITAT: Wet meadows, bogs. Platanthera saccata PLSA6 slender bog orchid Orchidaceae HABIT: Upright, 6-20 inches. KEY CHARACTERS: Stems with several leaves, oblanceolate to lanceolate. Inflorescence a few to many-flowered raceme. Flowers greenish. HABITAT: Open woods, thickets, muskegs, meadows. xy3 93 Polemonium acutiflorum POAC tall Jacob’ s-ladder Polemoniaceae HABIT: 8^0 inches. KEY CHARACTERS: Leaves alternate, with several hairless pinnately compound leaflets. Stem hairy. Flowers blue to violet, several per plant, with pointy, hairy-edged petals. Fruit round capsules. HABITAT: Streambanks, wet meadows. Polygonum viviparum POVI3 alpine bistort Polygonaceae HABIT: Thick, hard, usually contorted rhi- zome. KEY CHARACTERS: Leaves from base lanceolate-oblong, shiny above, grayish below, smooth. Spike with lower flowers replaced by bulblets with white or pink flowers. HABITAT: Dry meadows, heaths, to at least 7000 feet. 94 Potamogeton filiformis P0FI2 slender-leaved pondweed Potamogetonaceae HABIT: Threadlike stem, branched especially at the base. KEY CHARACTERS: Bristlelike leaves, brownish-green and blunt. Long flower stalk, spike with 3^1, usually widely separated whorls of flowers. HABITAT: Shallow water. Potamogeton natans PONA4 floating pondweed Potamogetonaceae HABIT: Rounded stem up to 40 inches long. KEY CHARACTERS: Submerged leaves lin- ear with no differentiation between the blade and the petiole. Floating leaves up to 3 M inch- es long and VA inches wide, thick, with many prominent parallel veins. Green fruits on a spike 1/4-2 inches long. HABITAT: Lakes, ponds, streams with slug- gish water. 95 Potamogeton pectinatus P0PE6 sago pondweed Potamogetonaceae HABIT: Rounded stem up to 15 inches long. KEY CHARACTERS: Leaves all sub- merged, hairlike. Fruits in about 5 whorls on a spike. HABITAT: Lakes and ponds (often with saline or brackish water). Potamogeton perfoliatus POPER5 claspingleaf pondweed Potamogetonaceae HABIT: Rounded stem up to 40 inches long. KEY CHARACTERS: All leaves sub- merged. Stem densely covered with ovate, dark-green leaves, often clasping the stem all around. Short, curved flower stalk with a brown spike. HABITAT: Lakes. Potentilla egedii Pacific silverweed POEG Rosaceae HABIT: Hairy stolons. KEY CHARACTERS: AH leaves are at or near the base, compound, completely or almost completely smooth, with 2-5 pairs of leaflets. Single-flowered with yellow petals. HABITAT: Often found in wet places. xy3 Potentilla palustris POPA14 marsh fivefinger Rosaceae HABIT: Prostrate to ascending, 4-40 inch- es. KEY CHARACTERS: Leaves toothed, pale and pubescent underneath, with 5-7 leaflets. Flowers brownish-purple, several per plant. Fruit achenes. HABITAT: Wet meadows, streams, shallow water. \ ) 97 Prenanthes alata rattlesnake root PRAL Compositae HABIT: 8-30 inches. KEY CHARACTERS: Leaves alternate, white below, arrowhead- shaped, toothed. Flowers white, several per plant. Fruit ach- enes. HABITAT: Streambanks, wet open areas, beach fringe, subalpine forests. Primula cuneifolia PRCU wedgeleaf primrose Primulaceae HABIT: Stem up to 3 inches long. Leaves all basal. KEY CHARACTERS: Leaves thick, 5-11 teeth at apex. Inflorescence an umbel with 1-9 flowers. Petals pink to rose or white. HABITAT: Alpine tundra, heath, wet mead- ows. 98 Pyrola asarifolia PYAS liverleaf wintergreen Pyrolaceae HABIT: Perennial, 5-16 inches. KEY CHARACTERS: Leaves basal, pur- plish underneath, rounded, toothed, leath- ery. Flowers crimson to pink, nodding, sev- eral in 1-3 bracted, long-stemmed terminal raceme, nodding, style long and curved. Fruit capsules. HABITAT: Forests, gravelly open areas, beach forests. c? Pyrola chlorantha PYCH greenish wintergreen Pyrolaceae HABIT: Perennial, lA- 1 inch. KEY CHARACTERS: Leaves basal, small, round, toothed, leathery. Flowers pale yel- lowish or greenish- white, few-10 in long leafless raceme, style curved. Fruit cap- sules. HABITAT: Forests. 99 Pyrola grandiflora PYGR largeflowered wintergreen Pyrolaceae HABIT: 2M-5 inches. KEY CHARACTERS: Leaves basal, the blades thick, lustrous, rounded. Inflorescence a 4-1 1 flowered raceme. Petals white or greenish-white. HABITAT: Alpine tundra, heath, woods. Pyrola minor PYMI snowline wintergreen Pyrolaceae HABIT: 2Vi-5 inches. KEY CHARACTERS: Leaves basal. Inflorescence a 5-13 flowered raceme. Petals white or pinkish. HABITAT: Meadows, heath, woods. XVi 100 Pyrola secunda PYSE one-sided wintergreen Pyrolaceae HABIT: Perennial, 3-8 inches. KEY CHARACTERS: Leaves mostly basal, toothed. Flowers greenish-white, sev- eral in 1-5 bracted long-stemmed one-sided inflorescence. Fruit capsules. HABITAT: Open forests. xy2 Ranunculus cymbalaria RACY seaside buttercup Ranunculaceae HABIT: Tufted, threadlike stolons. KEY CHARACTERS: Rounded, kidney-or heart-shaped leaves. Small flowers with usually 5 yellow petals. Ovate to cylindrical fruiting head and a hairy receptacle. HABITAT: Moist places, brackish water, sometimes apparently spread by human activity. 101 Ranunculus occidentalis RAOC western buttercup Ranunculaceae HABIT: 3-25 inches. KEY CHARACTERS: Basal leaves 3-part- ed, the parts lobed or toothed. Stem leaves alternate, with no petiole. Flowers yellow, several per plant, solitary. Fruit achenes in hemispherical head. HABITAT: Moist meadows, tundra. Ranunculus trichophyllus RATR white water crowfoot Ranunculaceae HABIT: Aquatic, stems floating or sub- merged, 8-80 inches long. KEY CHARACTERS: Leaves dark green, finely dissected into hairlike segments, the upper leaves palmately divided into 3-5 lobes. Flowers white. HABITAT: Ponds and streams. 102 Rhinanthus minor yellow rattle RHMI13 Scrophulariaceae HABIT: Somewhat branched or unbranched, to 30 inches. KEY CHARACTERS: Leaves opposite, narrow, toothed. Flowers yellow, numerous. Fruit capsules. HABITAT: Meadows, disturbed areas, beaches. Rubus arcticus RUAR nagoonberry Rosaceae HABIT: 1-6 inches. KEY CHARACTERS: Leaves alternate, palmately compound or 3-lobed. Flowers pink, few per plant, usually solitary, termi- nal, with narrow petals. Fruit red to pur- plish. HABITAT: Forests, meadows, muskegs, streambanks, beach fringe. 103 Rubus chamaemorus cloudberry RUCH Rosaceae HABIT: 2-12 inches. KEY CHARACTERS: Leaves roundish, 3-5 lobed, toothed, leathery. Flowers white, solitary, terminal. Fruits yellow-orange when ripe. HABITAT: Meadows, muskegs, alpine. xy2 Rubus pedatus RUPE fiveleaf bramble Rosaceae HABIT: Trailing, 1-4 inches. KEY CHARACTERS: Leaves toothed, with 5 palmately compound leaflets. Flowers white, solitary, on few-bracted stalk. Fruits red. HABITAT: Forests, meadows, muskegs. 104 Rumex fene stratus western dock RUFE3 Polygonaceae HABIT: Upright from taproots, 20-80 inch- es, usually unbranched below the inflores- cence. KEY CHARACTERS: Lower leaves up to 12 inches long, the upper leaves smaller. Inflorescence a dense panicle. HABITAT: Marshes, beaches, stream banks, tidal flats. Sanguisorba stipulata S AST 11 Sitka bumet Rosaceae HABIT: 10-30 inches. KEY CHARACTERS: Leaves pinnately compound, toothed. Flowers greenish-white, in a dense, long-stemmed, 1-3 inch spike with 1-3 reduced leaves, stamens very long and conspicuous. Fruit achenes. HABITAT: Meadows, muskegs, swamps, tundra. 105 Saxifraga bronchialis SABR6 yellowdot saxifrage Saxifragaceae HABIT: 1-6 inches. KEY CHARACTERS: Leaves leathery, with no petiole, pointed tips, and stout hairs on edges. Flowers white or cream, spotted with yellow or red, in several-leaved long-stemmed inflorescence. Fruit cap- sules. HABITAT: Rocky soil, rock crevices, cliffs, tundra. Saxifraga punctata SAPU6 heart-leaved saxifrage Saxifragaceae HABIT: 2-24 inches. KEY CHARACTERS: Leaves kidney-shaped, with many large teeth. Flowers white to pink, in leafless long-stemmed inflorescence. Fruit cap- sules. HABITAT: Streambanks, open areas, alpine meadows. 106 Saxifraga tricuspidata SATR5 prickly saxifrage Saxifragaceae HABIT: Evergreen, 1-10 inches. KEY CHARACTERS: Leaves brownish- green, leathery, with 3 teeth and hairy edges. Flowers white with yellow spots at base and red spots at tip, in long-stemmed inflorescence with several reduced leaves. Fruit capsules. HABITAT: Gravelly slopes, rock crevices, cliffs, ridges, tundra. Sedum rosea SEROI3 roseroot stonecrop Crassulaceae HABIT: Upright from thick rhizome, 3-10 inches. KEY CHARACTERS: Stem with many leaves. Leaves reduced and scalelike on the lower stem, becoming larger higher up. Flowers purple. HABITAT: Scree slopes, rocky places, alpine tundra, heath, open woods. 107 Senecio triangularis SETR arrowleaf groundsel Compositae HABIT: 1-4 feet. KEY CHARACTERS: Leaves alternate, tri- angular, toothed. No basal leaves. Flowers yellow, several in flat-topped inflores- cences. Fruit hairless achenes. HABITAT: Streambanks, wet meadows, open areas. Solidago multiradiata SOMU northern goldenrod Compositae HABIT: Upright, 4-20 inches. KEY CHARACTERS: Leaves alternate, toothed, with hairy edges at base. Flowers small, yellow, several in dense inflores- cence. Fruit hairy achenes. HABITAT: From lowlands to the lower alpine. Meadows, open areas, rocky soil. 108 Sparganium angustifolium SPAN2 floating burreed Sparganiaceae HABIT: Aquatic plant with stems 6-25 inches long. KEY CHARACTERS: Leaves usually floating, distinctly named. Fruit with point- ed beak longer than V20 inches. HABITAT: Ponds and sluggish streams. Sparganium hyperboreum SPHY northern burreed Sparganiaceae HABIT: Aquatic plant with stems 4-10 inches long. KEY CHARACTERS: Leaves upright or floating. Fruit nearly beakless. HABITAT: Ponds and lakes. 109 Sparganium minimum small burreed SPMI Sparganiaceae HABIT: Aquatic plant with stems up to 15 inches long. KEY CHARACTERS: Leaves upright or floating, lacking median nerve. Fruit with short cone-shaped beak. HABITAT: Ponds and lakes. Spiranthes romanzoffiana SPRO hooded ladies’ tresses Orchidaceae HABIT: Stem leafy in lower part, from fleshy tuberoid roots. KEY CHARACTERS: Flowers in 3 spiral rows, fragrant and white to creamy. Sepals and 2 petals forming hood, lip constricted above the middle with a terminal round to ovate lobe. HABITAT: Bogs, marshes, in mountains to at least 3000 feet. 110 Stellaria calycantha STCA northern starwort Caryophyllaceae HABIT: Weak stem, curving upward, branching, smooth or slightly rough. KEY CHARACTERS: Leaves without stalks, opposite, ovate-lanceolate, pointed. Single flowers in forks of stem. HABITAT: Wet places. Stellaria crassifolia STCR fleshy starwort Caryophyllaceae HABIT: Forms mats or clumps, stems 1-10 inches long. KEY CHARACTERS: Leaves opposite, without petiole, mostly much longer than broad. Flowers 1-3 in open cymes, petals white. HABITAT: Muskegs, open woods, lake shores, snow beds. Ill Stellaria crispa curled starwort STCR2 Caryophyllaceae HABIT: Forms mats, stems 4-20 inches long. KEY CHARACTERS: Leaves opposite, without petiole, egg-shaped in outline, sharply pointed at the apex. Flowers soli- tary in leaf axils, petals usually lacking. HABITAT: Wet soil in woods, on stream banks, and on beaches. Stellaria sitchana STSI3 Sitka starwort Caryophyllaceae HABIT: Forms clumps, stems up to 20 inches long. KEY CHARACTERS: Leaves opposite, without petiole, mostly much longer than broad. Inflorescences mostly open cymes with several to many flowers, petals usually absent (white when present). HABITAT: Wet meadows, river banks, thickets, open woods. 112 Streptopus amplexifolius STAM2 twistedstalk Liliaceae HABIT: Upright, branched, 10-40 inches. KEY CHARACTERS: Leaves alternate, clasping stem, with prominent veins. Flowers white, 1-2 per stalk, from leaf bases. Fruit red berries. HABITAT: Forests. Subularia aquatica SUAQ awlwort Cruciferae HABIT: Aquatic, often submerged, stem up to 4 inches tall. KEY CHARACTERS: Leaves linear and tapering to a sharp point. Flowers very small, petals white. HABITAT: Ponds, streams, shores. xi 113 Swertia perennis star gentian SWPE Gentianaceae HABIT: Smooth, straight stem, simple, from woody base. KEY CHARACTERS: Leaves at base long-stalked, elliptic to oblong, entire. Upper stem leaves not stalked, alternate or in pairs, somewhat pointed. Flowers 5-lobed and pointed, grayish-blue, mottled, variable in color, rarely white. HABITAT: Subalpine meadows. Thalictrum sparsiflorum THSP fewflower meadowrue Ranunculaceae HABIT: To 4 feet. KEY CHARACTERS: Leaves alternate, 2-3 times temate. Flowers pinkish-white, no petals. Fruit achenes. HABITAT: Forests, meadows. Tiarella trifoliata TITR foamflower Saxifragaceae HABIT: Perennial, 6-20 inches. KEY CHARACTERS: Leaves mostly basal, toothed, with 3 leaflets. Flowers white, in 1-2 leaved long-stemmed inflo- rescence. Fruit sugarscoop-like capsules. HABITAT: Forests, meadows, seeps, flood- plains. Tofieldia coccinea TOCO northern asphodel Liliaceae HABIT: Tender, 2^1 inches. KEY CHARACTERS: Leaves mostly basal, slender, on 2 sides of stem. Stems not sticky. Flowers yellowish, in spike-like raceme. Fruit capsules. HABITAT: Alpine tundra, heath, stony areas. 115 Tofieldia glutinosa T0GL2 sticky false-asphodel Liliaceae HABIT: Stout, 6-12 inches. KEY CHARACTERS: Leaves mostly basal, slender, on 2 sides of stem. Stems sticky. Flowers yellowish, in leafless to 1-bracted long- stemmed spike-like raceme. Fruit capsules. HABITAT: Open forests, meadows, muskegs. x y3 Trientalis europaea TREU starflower Primulaceae HABIT: Unbranched, upright, 2-6 inches. KEY CHARACTERS: Leaves 5-6 in termi- nal whorl with much smaller, alternate stem leaves below. Flowers white, 1-3 per plant, solitary, terminal. Fruit capsules. HABITAT: Forests, meadows, muskegs, open areas. 116 Triglochin maritimum TRMA4 seaside arrowgrass Juncaginaceae HABIT: 5-35 inches. KEY CHARACTERS: Leaves all basal, fleshy, linear, from thick woody rhizome. Inflorescence a several to many-flowered raceme. Flower segments greenish or yel- lowish. HABITAT: Muskegs, saline meadows, tidal flats, open woods. Utricularia vulgaris UTVU common bladderwort Lentibulariaceae HABIT: Free floating. KEY CHARACTERS: Leaves much dis- sected, the leaf segments hair like. Leaves all with bladders. Flowers 5-15, yellow. HABITAT: Ponds and lakes. 117 Valeriana sitchensis Sitka valerian VASI Valerianaceae HABIT: 1-3 feet. KEY CHARACTERS: Leaves mostly on stem, opposite, toothed, with 3-5 leaflets. Flowers white or lilac, in dense terminal inflorescence. Fruit achenes. HABITAT: Moist places, tundra. Veratrum viride VEVI false hellebore Liliaceae HABIT: 3-8 feet. KEY CHARACTERS: Leaves alternate, broad, with parallel veins, woolly pubescent underneath. Flowers yellowish-green, in terminal inflorescence with long, hanging branches. Fruit 3-parted capsules. HABITAT: Meadows, moist places, shores in Prince William Sound. 118 Viola epipsila marsh violet VIEP Violaceae HABIT: 2-10 inches. KEY CHARACTERS: Leaves basal, toothed, shiny, thin, with rounded tip. Flowers lilac, solitary, on long stem with pair of bracts, nodding, with short and thick spur. Fruit capsules. HABITAT: Muskegs, steambanks, wet meadows, open areas. XVa Viola glabella VIGL yellow violet Violaceae HABIT: 2-12 inches. KEY CHARACTERS: Basal leaves toothed, with pointed tip. Stem leaves opposite. Flowers yellow, solitary, nodding. Fruit capsules. HABITAT: Moist forests, riverbanks. 119 Viola langsdorffii Alaska violet VILA6 Violaceae HABIT: 2-10 inches. KEY CHARACTERS: Leaves basal, toothed, with rounded tip. Flowers purple, solitary, on long stem with pair of bracts, nodding. Fruit capsules. HABITAT: Steambanks, moist meadows, snowbeds. 120 GRAMINOIDS 121 122 SEDGES/CYPERACEAE Stems triangular, 3-ranked (leaves on 3 sides of stem) and mostly solid. Fruit usual- ly an achene, never a caryopsis. 1 bract below flowers. Anthers attached at base. GRASSES/GRAMINEAE Stems round or flattened, 2-ranked (leaves on 2 sides of stem), and hollow. Fruit usual- ly a caryopsis. 2 bracts below flowers. Anthers attached centrally. RUSHES/JUNCACEAE Stems round and mostly solid, 3-ranked. Flowers usually have a well-developed peri- anth of six segments. Fruit capsular with numerous seeds. Petals and sepals present. 123 Agrostis aequivalvis arctic bentgrass AGAE Gramineae Refer to Podagrostis aequivalis in Hulten (1968). HABIT: Perennial, rhizomatous, forming small tufts, to 30 inches. KEY CHARACTERS: Inflorescence a 2-6 inch long, loose, open panicle. Spikelets with 1 flower. Lemmas shorter than glumes, awnless. HABITAT: Bogs and lake margins. Agrostis alaskana AGAL2 Alaska bentgrass Gramineae HABIT: Perennial, shortly rhizomatous, forming small to large tufts, to 30 inches. KEY CHARACTERS: Inflorescence a 1-6 inch long, narrow to open panicle. Spikelets with 1 flower. Lemmas shorter than glumes, awnless or awned. HABITAT: Bogs, lake shores, sea beaches. 124 Arctagrostis latifolia ARLA2 polargrass Gramineae HABIT: Perennial, rhizomatous, tufted or solitary, 1-5 feet. KEY CHARACTERS: Few basal leaves. Inflorescence a 2- to 26-inch long purplish open or short-branched panicle. Spikelets with 1 flower. Lemmas finely hairy, longer than glumes, awnless. HABITAT: Forests, meadows, gravel bars, tundra. Arctophila fulva ARFU2 pendant grass Gramineae HABIT: Perennial, rhizomatous, 8-30 inch- es tall. KEY CHARACTERS: Panicle open, the branches recurved or drooping, 2-9 inches long. Spikelets with 1-7 flowers, glumes shorter than lemmas. HABITAT: Lake and pond margins, stream banks. 125 Calamagrostis canadensis CACA4 bluejoint reedgrass Gramineae HABIT: Rhizomatous, to 6 feet. KEY CHARACTERS: Inflorescence a 2-9 inch long open panicle. Spikelets with 1 flower. Florets with hairs longer than lem- mas. Lemmas distinctly to barely shorter than glumes, with straight or curved dorsal awn, the awn shorter to slightly longer than glumes. Glumes usually purplish. HABITAT: Open forests, meadows, shrub- lands, open areas, beaches. Calamagrostis nutkaensis CANU Pacific reedgrass Gramineae HABIT: Rhizomatous, tufted, to 3 feet. KEY CHARACTERS: Inflorescence a 4-8 inch long narrow greenish or purplish open panicle. Spikelets with 1 flower. Florets with hairs not more than half as long as lemmas. Lemmas shorter than glumes, with awn straight or bent at base. HABITAT: Wet places along coast. 126 Carex anthoxanthea C AAN 1 0 arctic sedge Cyperaceae HABIT: Culms with bladeless sheaths at base, 2-5 inches tall, in rows from creep- ing, yellowish-brown rhizome. KEY CHARACTERS: Solitary spike, smooth, fusiform perigynia, yellowish- green. HABITAT: Grassy slopes. Carex aquatilis CAAQ water sedge Cyperaceae HABIT: Height to 30 inches. Cordlike rhi- zome, coarse, scaly, and brown or red- dish-brown. KEY CHARACTERS: Leaves as long as stem, or slightly shorter. Stiff, erect spikes, the upper sessile, the lower short- stalked. Scales brown or blackish with a pale mid- vein. Light colored perigynia. HABITAT: Shallow water, marshes, and along rivers. 127 Car ex lyngbyaei Lyngbye’s sedge CALY3 Cyperaceae HABIT: Stoloniferous, tufted to 3 feet tall. Triangular, smooth culm, longer than leaves. KEY CHARACTERS: Flat leaves, light green and abruptly pointed. Male spikes 2-3, female 2^1. Inflorescences drooping, long-stalked. Lanceolate scales, long-point- ed, dark reddish-brown with a lighter cen- ter. Ovate perigynia. HABITAT: Coastal salt marshes, rarely inland. Carex macrochaeta CAMA1 1 longawned sedge Cyperaceae HABIT: Loosely in tufts or dense clumps, with short runners to 3 feet tall. Culm longer than leaves, nearly smooth, with pur- plish-brown, bladeless sheaths, shredded at the base. KEY CHARACTERS: Light green leaf blades. Oblong spikes 3 -4, on thin, smooth stalks. Lanceolate scales with a light-col- ored midvein, excurrent into yellowish awn. Elliptic-lanceolate perigynia. HABITAT: Wet places, common along coast, rarer inland. 128 Car ex magellanica boreal bog sedge CAMA12 Cyperaceae HABIT: Rhizomatous and more or less casepitose, 4-30 inches tall. KEY CHARACTERS: Roots with yellow- ish woolly hairs. Leaves flat, pale green, shorter than the culm. Terminal spike most- ly staminate, the lateral 2—4 pistillate on short, drooping, stalks. Pistillate scales longer than the perigynia, lanceolate, com- ing to a long point. HABITAT: Bogs, muskegs, lake shores. Carex microchaeta CAMI4 smallawned sedge Cyperaceae HABIT: Long, slender, fibrous rootstock. Culms with many basal leaves, 3-25 inches tall, the outer withered and brown. KEY CHARACTERS: Leaves much shorter than culm. Spikes 2-4, in mature plants drooping. Acute scales, purplish-black with lighter midrib. Elliptic perigynia, blackish- tinged. HABITAT: Meadows, wet places, heaths to over 6900 feet. 129 Carex microglochin CAMI6 fewseeded bog sedge Cyperaceae HABIT: Rhizomatous, 2Vi -8 inches tall. KEY CHARACTERS: Leaf sheaths brown- ish, lower leaf blades short, blades longer higher on culm. Spikes solitary, staminate flowers at tip. Pistillate scales shorter than the perigynia. Perigynia abruptly reflexed. HABITAT: Marshy heath, lake shores, stream banks. Carex pauciflora CAPA 19 fewflower sedge Cyperaceae HABIT: Loosely tufted with short, brown, scaly runners. Culm curved at base, 4-10 inches. KEY CHARACTERS: Lowest sheath bladeless. Style projecting beyond the mouth of brownish-green perigynia. HABITAT: Peat bogs, prefers acid soil. 130 Carex pluriflora CAPL6 manyflower sedge Cyperaceae HABIT: Long, scaly, purplish-black rhi- zome, fuzzy roots. Triangular culm, 4-15 inches. KEY CHARACTERS: Leaves about as long as culm, flat, grayish-green. Spikes 2-3, the terminal male, long-stalked, the lateral female, drooping on hairlike stalks, 10-20 flowered. Scales broadly ovate and pointed at the tip, black, with a paler mid- vien. Ovate to ovate-lanceolate perigynia, in age blackish-brown. HABITAT: Bogs and margins of ponds along coast. Carex sitchensis CASI3 Sitka sedge Cyperaceae HABIT: Very coarse, short, scaly rhizome, brown or purplish. Culms sharply triangular and smooth, to 40 inches tall. KEY CHARACTERS: Male spikes 2-5, slender, erect, female strongly separate, slightly drooping, on long, slender stalks. Scales brownish, with pale center, pointed in age, distinctly thin and translucent at tip. Oval perigynia. HABITAT: Swamps. 131 Deschampsia caespitosa DECE tufted hairgrass Gramineae Includes D. beringensis as defined by Hulten (1968). HABIT: Tufted, up to and exceeding 3 feet tall. KEY CHARACTERS: Smooth leaves, mostly flat. Open, branched flower cluster, with hairlike, very scabrous branches. Awn mostly fixed close to base, slightly longer than floret. Fuzzy rachis. Flower cluster typically yellowish-green, but many are darker. HABITAT: Muddy shores. i Eleocharis acicularis ELAC needle spikerush Cyperaceae HABIT: Caespitose with slender rhizomes and stolons, to 4 inches tall. KEY CHARACTERS: Leaves reduced to sheaths (no leaf blades). Spikes solitary. HABITAT: Mud banks along streams, lakes, or ponds. 132 Eleocharis palustris ELPA3 common spikerush Cyperaceae HABIT: Stiff culms, to 25 inches tall, with reddish basal sheaths from stout, brown- ish-black rhizome. KEY CHARACTERS: Lanceolate to ovate spike, brown with two basal scales, each clasping half of the culm. HABITAT: Wet places, shallow water. Elymus arenarius ELARM beach rye Gramineae HABIT: Culms from long, stout, creeping rootstocks. KEY CHARACTERS: Old leaves at base persistent after withering. Leaves firm, flat, with edges rolled inward. Stiff spike, spikelets 3-7 flowered. HABITAT: Sandy beaches, forming a belt along shore, rare on dunes inland. 133 Eriophorum angustifolium ERAN6 tall cottongrass Cyperaceae HABIT: Rhizomatous, 4-35 inches. KEY CHARACTERS: Leaves usually flat below the middle, triangular channeled or folded above the middle. Spikes 2-10, at least some pendulous, scales grayish. Flower heads with long, silky, white bris- tles. HABITAT: Muskegs, bogs, meadows, shal- low ponds, alpine tundra, heath, open woods. Eriophorum russeolum ERRU2 red cottongrass Cyperaceae HABIT: Rhizomatous, 8-30 inches. KEY CHARACTERS: Leaves linear, chan- neled. Spikes solitary, erect, more or less round. Flower heads with long, silky, cinna- mon to white bristles. HABITAT: Bogs, lakeshores, muskegs, wet meadows, stream banks, alpine tundra, heath, open woods. 134 Festuca altaica FEAL rough fescue Gramineae HABIT: Perennial, tufted, 8-32 inches. KEY CHARACTERS: Leaf blades folded. Inflorescence a 3-6 inch long open panicle. Spikelets with 2-6 flowers. Lemmas pur- plish to green, with short terminal awn. HABITAT: Open forests, streambanks, gravel bars, rock outcrops. Festuca rubra FERU2 red fescue Gramineae HABIT: Perennial, tufted, to 25 inches. KEY CHARACTERS: Leaf blades folded or rolled in from edges. Inflorescence a 1- 4 inch long compact or open panicle, often to 1 side of stem. Spikelets purple to green, with 4-7 flowers. Lemmas usually with short terminal awn. HABITAT: Muskegs, cliffs, beaches, tidal flats. 135 Glyceria pauciflora false mannagrass GLPA6 Gramineae HABIT: Rhizomatous, often rooting at the lower nodes, 10-40 inches tall. KEY CHARACTERS: Leaf blades flat, to 3A inches wide, rough-hairy on one or both sides. Panicle mostly 4-9 inches long, loose, branches ascending to spreading or drooping. Spikelets 3-7 flowered, lemmas with 5-7 prominent nerves. HABITAT: Woods, thickets, marshes, meadows. XV A Hierochloe alpina HIAL3 alpine holygrass Gramineae HABIT: Tufted, shortly rhizomatous, /-\ foot. KEY CHARACTERS: Leaf blades rolled under at edge. Inflorescence a 1- to 2-inch long open panicle. Spikelets with 3 flowers. Stamen-bearing lemmas hairy, the first with short awn, the second with long, twisted and bent awn arising from middle of lemma. Fertile lemmas hairy at tip, awn- less. Glumes about as long as spikelet. HABITAT: Open forests, tundra. 136 Hordeum brachyantherum H0BR2 meadow barley Gramineae HABIT: Tufted, 6-33 inches tall. KEY CHARACTERS: Leaf blades flat. Inflorescence an erect spike \Vi-5 inches long, easily shattering when mature. Glumes all slender, awnlike. Central floret usually with an awn surpassing those of the glumes. HABITAT: Open woods, tidal flats, beach- es, bluffs, disturbed areas. i Juncus alpinus JUAL alpine rush Juncaceae HABIT: Perennial from short rhizomes, culms tufted, 4-18 inches tall. KEY CHARACTERS: Leaves 1-3 per stem. Leaf blades stiff, erect, round in cross-section. Inflorescence terminal, the branches ascending, heads commonly 5-many, 3-10 flowered. HABITAT: Sandy banks and shores and moist sites near lakes, streams, and ponds. 137 J uncus arcticus arctic rush JUAR2 Juncaceae HABIT: Culms stout, thick, with yellow- ish-brown, shiny basal sheaths in rows from thick, horizontal, dark rootstocks. KEY CHARACTERS: Contracted flower cluster, many-flowered, outer flower leaves linear-lanceolate, brown with greenish cen- ter, longer than inner. HABITAT: Sandy shores, tidal marshes. (subsp. sitchensis , subsp. alaskanus and subsp. ater similar, also found in wet places and river flats.) Luzula multiflora LUMU2 common woodrush Juncaceae HABIT: Tufted, to 18 inches. KEY CHARACTERS: Leaves narrow, with closed sheaths. 2-4 stem leaves. Stem solid and round. Flowers crowded in a spike, with 3 petals and 3 sepals, all scale-like. Fruit 1 -parted, 3-seeded capsules, longer or shorter than “petals and sepals.” HABITAT: Wet to dry forests and tundra. 138 Luzula parviflora LUPA4 smallflowered woodrush Juncaceae HABIT: Tufted or solitary from rhizomes, 6-38 inches. KEY CHARACTERS: Leaves broad, with closed sheaths. 3-5 stem leaves. Stem solid and round. Flowers solitary at tips of branches of open inflorescence, with 3 petals and 3 sepals, all scale-like. Fruit 1-parted, 3-seeded capsules, at least as long as “petals and sepals.” HABITAT: Forests, meadows. XV3 Luzula wahlenbergii LUWA Wahlenberg’s woodrush Juncaceae HABIT: Tufted and shortly rhizomatous, 4-16 inches tall. KEY CHARACTERS: Leaves blades flat. Inflorescence an open, nodding, or spread- ing panicle, the flowers solitary or in 2s or 3s at the end of hairlike branches. HABITAT: Most sites in alpine tundra, heath, and open woods. 139 Phleum commutatum mountain timothy PHC09 Gramineae i HABIT: Perennial, tufted, 5-26 inches. KEY CHARACTERS: Inflorescence a /2- to 2-inch long, short-branched, dense, spike-like, cylindrical panicle. Spikelets with 1 flower. Lemmas finely hairy, awn- less. Glumes with hairs on central ridge and sides, with awn up to % length of glume. HABITAT: Open forests, meadows, stream- banks. Poa lanata POLA arctic bluegrass Gramineae HABIT: Perennial from creeping rhizomes, 8-30 inches tall. KEY CHARACTERS: Leaves short, stiff. Panicle pyramid- shaped. Spikelets purplish, 3-6 flowered, lemmas densely hairy with woolly hairs in lower half. HABITAT: Meadows. 140 Poa macrantha seashore bluegrass POMA26 Gramineae Not in Hulten (1968). See Pojar and Mackinnon (1994). HABIT: Perennial with extensively creep- ing rhizomes and long runners, upright, 5-15 inches tall. KEY CHARACTERS: Leaves are stiff, inrolled, in dense tufts. Panicle compact, 1^-5 inches long. Spikelets 5-fiowered, long (A inches) relative to most species of Poa. HABITAT: Coastal sand dunes. Puccinellia nutkaensis PUNU Nootka alkaligrass Gramineae HABIT: Tufted perennial, 8-25 inches tall. KEY CHARACTERS: Leaf blades fiat to infolded. Panicles VY^-lYi inches long, the branches appressed-ascending to spreading. Spikelets mostly 4-6 flowered, green or purplish. HABITAT: Seashores. 141 Puccinellia pumila PUPU dwarf alkaligrass Gramineae HABIT: Tufted perennial, 3-8 inches tall. KEY CHARACTERS: Leaf blades infold- ed. Panicles 1-3 inches long, the branches usually appressed. Spikelets mostly 3-6 flowered, green or purplish. HABITAT: Seashores. i Trichophorum caespitosum TRCA30 tufted bulrush Cyperaceae HABIT: Perennial. Densely tufted. Smooth culms. KEY CHARACTERS: Light green, erect or ascending. Numerous basal sheaths. Solitary spikelet, terminal, few-flowered and ovoid-oblong. Scales ovate and yel- lowish-brown, deciduous with 6 smooth bristles. HABITAT: In acid bogs and on moist rocks in tundra, alpine mats. 142 Trisetum spicatum TRSP2 spike trisetum Gramineae HABIT: Tufted, to 28 inches. KEY CHARACTERS: Leaves densely hairy. Inflorescence a lA- to 5 inch long open spike-like panicle. Spikelets with 2 or more flowers. Lemmas extend beyond or concealed by glumes, with bent and twisted awn arising from above middle. HABITAT: Forests, meadows, streambanks, rock outcrops, alpine. Vahlodea atropurpurea VAAT2 mountain hairgrass Gramineae HABIT: Perennial, tufted, to 26 inches. KEY CHARACTERS: Leaf blades flat and broad. Inflorescence a 1-5 inch long open panicle. Spikelets with 2 or more flowers, green becoming purplish. Florets with hairs XA as long as lemmas. Lemmas concealed by glumes, with twisted awn arising from above middle. HABITAT: Open forests, meadows. 143 144 FERNS AND FERN ALLIES 145 Athyrium filix-femina ATFI lady fern Athyriaceae HABIT: Deciduous, tufted, to 2 feet. KEY CHARACTERS: Blades oval, 2-3 times pinnate. Stalk short, with scales. HABITAT: Lowlands to 3600 feet. Moist forests, streambanks. Blechnum spicant BLSP deer fern Blechnaceae HABIT: Evergreen, tufted, to 2 feet. KEY CHARACTERS: Sterile blades nar- rowly oval, evergreen, leathery, with short stalk, forming circle around fertile blades. Fertile blades similar, but taller, deciduous, with narrower “leaflets” and longer stalk. Both types once pinnately divided. HABITAT: Forests, streambanks, subalpine meadows, acid soil. 146 Cystopteris fragilis CYFR2 fragile fern Athyriaceae HABIT: Deciduous, tufted, to 1 foot. KEY CHARACTERS: Blades 2-3 times pinnate. Stalk shorter than blade. HABITAT: To 6000 feet. Open forests, talus slopes, rock crevices. Dryopteris dilatata DRDI2 wood fern Aspidiaceae HABIT: Deciduous, tufted, 1-3 feet. KEY CHARACTERS: Blade egg-shaped in outline, 3 times pinnate. Lower pair of leaflets triangular. Stalk shorter than blade, with scales. HABITAT: Forests, streambanks. 147 Equisetum arvense EQAR common horsetail Equisetaceae HABIT: Upright, to 30 inches. KEY CHARACTERS: Stem hollow, joint- ed, with 10-12 vertical ridges. Branches in whorls. Brown, branchless flowering stems appear in spring, fruiting head withers quickly. HABITAT: Forests, lakeshores, disturbed areas, beaches, tundra. Equisetum fluviatile EQFL swamp horsetail Equisetaceae HABIT: Rhizome glabrous, simple or branched stem, 10-40 inches tall, with wide central cavity. KEY CHARACTERS: Stem finely striate, smooth to the touch. Single branches or in irregular whorls at intemodes. Green sheaths, with dark brown teeth. Obtuse, long-stalked cones. HABITAT: Shallow water and marshy places in low altitudes. 148 i Equisetum palustre marsh horsetail EQPA Equisetaceae HABIT: Thin, smooth rhizome, lustrous, dark reddish-brown, stems 6-24 inches tall. KEY CHARACTERS: Simple stem with 6 ridges, or with single to several thick branches of different lengths, top of stem usually lacking branches. First sheath of branches very short and dark brown, the next green. Long-stalked cone, obtuse and soon withering. HABITAT: Wet or moist places, ponds. Rare along shores, more common inland. Equisetum pratense EQPR meadow horsetail Equisetaceae HABIT: Rhizome nearly black, creeping, with scattered stems, 4-20 inches tall. KEY CHARACTERS: Spring phase with light-brown stem and few short branches, later developing into whorls of branches. Summer phase with grayish-green, thin, striated, very rough stems. Green sheaths. Numerous slender branches, 3-angled. Obtuse, long-stalked cone, soon withering. HABITAT: Common in woods of the interi- or. xy3 149 Equisetum sylvaticum EQSY woodland horsetail Equisetaceae HABIT: Upright, to 28 inches. KEY CHARACTERS: Stem hollow, joint- ed, with 10-18 vertical ridges. Branches in whorls, branches again branched. Brownish, branched flowering stems appear in spring, fruiting head withers quickly. HABITAT: To subalpine. Open forests. Equisetum variegatum EQVA northern horsetail Equisetaceae HABIT: Upright, to 15 inches. KEY CHARACTERS: Stem hollow, joint- ed, with 5-12 vertical ridges, the central cavity to the diameter of the stem. Fruiting head with a prominent point at tip. HABITAT: Muskegs, streambanks, woods, alpine tundra. \ 150 Gymnocarpium dryopteris GYDR oak fern Aspidiaceae HABIT: Deciduous, solitary, 8-12 inches. KEY CHARACTERS: Blades light green, temate, the leaflets again 1-2 times pinnate. HABITAT: Forests, thickets, streambanks, seeps. xy3 Lycopodium alpinum LYAL3 alpine clubmoss Lycopodiaceae HABIT: Elongate stem creeping in surface of soil, rooting, whitish-green. KEY CHARACTERS: Erect, blue-green branches, cylindrical or usually slightly flattened, with leaves in 4 rows. Sessile spikes, at tips of leafy branches. HABITAT: Woods, meadows, and heaths. Common from lowlands to mountains. Absent from calcareous soil. x% 151 Lycopodium annotinum LYAN2 stiff clubmoss Lycopodiaceae HABIT: Upright from creeping stem, to 8 inches. KEY CHARACTERS: Leaves in 8 rows along stem, 4 in a whorl, needle-like, toothed, stiff, with pointed tip. 1 terminal stalkless spore-bearing spike per stem. HABITAT: Lowlands to lower alpine. Forests, heaths, muskegs. Lycopodium clavatum LYCL running clubmoss Lycopodiaceae HABIT: Ascending from creeping stem, to 8 inches. KEY CHARACTERS: Leaves in 10 rows along stem, needle-like, lying flat on stem, or nearly so, with long hair at tip. 1 termi- nal fruiting stalk per stem with 1-3 spore-bearing spikes. HABITAT: To lower alpine. Forests, rocky places, mostly on acid soil. xy2 152 Lycopodium complanatum LYC03 groundcedar Lycopodiaceae HABIT: Upright from creeping stem, to 14 inches. KEY CHARACTERS: Leaves in 4 rows, scale-like, lying flat on stem. Stems flat, with cedar-like appearance. 1 terminal fruit- ing stalk per branch with 2 spore-bearing spikes. HABITAT: Rarely above treeline. Dry forests. xy2 Lycopodium sabinifolium LYSAS3 savinleaf groundpine Lycopodiaceae HABIT: Ascending, densely branching, stem creeping in surface soil, stems 1-5 inches long. KEY CHARACTERS: Leaves in 5-6 rows along stem, uniform. Spikes solitary at ends of elongate branches. HABITAT: Alpine meadows, heath, woods. xy2 153 Lycopodium selago fir clubmoss LYSE Lycopodiaceae HABIT: Ascending, tufted, 2-5 inches. KEY CHARACTERS: Leaves in 8 rows along stem, needle-like. Stems branch in pairs, with all branches reaching same height. Spore bearing leaves along stem, not in spikes. HABITAT: Low elevation to alpine. Forests, heaths, muskegs, tundra. Selaginella selaginoides SESE club spikemoss Selaginellaceae HABIT: Stems of two types, the vegetative ones prostrate and mat-forming, the fertile ones ascending. Stems 1^1 inches long. KEY CHARACTERS: Leaves spirally arranged, not bristle-tipped. Fruiting struc- ture round in cross section, solitary. HABITAT: Woods, thickets, heath. 154 Thelypteris limbosperma THLI9 maiden fern Thelypteridaceae HABIT: Short, ascending rhizome, scaly. KEY CHARACTERS: Leaf stalks grooved above, with dark base. Fronds forming crown, yellowish-green, glandular and cov- ered with white down on veins below, abruptly pointed. Pinnae segments entire, blunt. Sori small, indusium lobed, glandu- lar. HABITAT: Open, rocky slopes, reaching subalpine region. Thelypteris phegopteris THPH beech fern Thelypteridaceae HABIT: Deciduous, solitary, to 16 inches. KEY CHARACTERS: Blade triangular, 1-2 times pinnate, hairy. Stalk hairy, scaly, twice as long as blade. Lower most leaflets droop. HABITAT: Lowlands to lower alpine. Forests, meadows, streambanks, stony slopes. 155 XV3 156 APPENDICES 157 Appendix 1. Comparison between Hulten and PLANTS nomenclature, Hulten Name Code PLANTS revised name Code Trees Betula kenaica BEKE2 Betula papyrifera var. kenaica BEPAK Betula papyrifera BEPA Betula neoalaskana BENE4 Shrubs Alnus crispa ssp. sinuata ALCRS Alnus viridis ssp. sinuata ALVIS Cassiope stelleriana CAST33 Harrimanella stelleriana HAST3 Cladothamnus pyrolaeflorus CLPY3 Elliottia pyroliflorus ELPY Echinopanax horridum ECH02 Oplopanax horridus OPHO Ledum palustre ssp. groenlandicum LEPAG Ledum groenlandicum LEGR Oxycoccus microcarpus OXMI3 Vaccinium oxycoccos VAOX Potentilla fruticosa POFR4 Dasiphora floribunda DAFL3 Salix arctica SAAR4 Salix arctophila SAAR6 Salix depressa ssp. rostrata SADER Salix bebbiana SABE2 Spiraea beauverdiana SPBE Spiraea stevenii SPST3 Vaccinium alaskensis VAAL Vaccinium ovalifolium VAOV Forbs Achillea borealis ACBO Achillea millefolium var. borealis ACMLB Apargidium boreale APBO Microseris borealis MIBO Aruncus Sylvester ARSYA Aruncus dioicus var. acuminatus ARDLA Callitriche vema CAVE2 Callitriche palustris CAPA52 Cardamine umbellata CAUM3 Cardamine oligosperma CAOLK Cicuta mackenzieana CIMA var. kamtschatica Cicuta virosa CIVI5 Conioselinum chinense COCHP Conioselinum gmelinii COGM Epilobium adenocaulon EPAD Epilobium ciliatum ssp. ciliatum EPCIC Epilobium angustifolium EPAN2 Chamerion angustifolium CHANA2 Epilobium glandulosum EPGL4 ssp. angustifolium Epilobium ciliatum ssp. glandulosum EPCIG Epilobium latifolium EPLA Chamerion latifolium CHLA13 Fauria crista-galli FACR Nephrophyllidium crista-galli NECR2 Heracleum lanatum HELA4 Heracleum maximum HEMA80 Lathy rus maritimus LAMA3 Lathyrus japonicus var. maritimus LAJAM Myosotis alpestris MYAL Myosotis asiatica MYAL Nuphar polysepala NUP02 Nuphar lutea ssp. polysepala NULUP Petasites hyperboreus PEHY5 Petasites frigidus var. nivalis PEFRN 159 Platanthera saccata PLSA6 Platanthera stricta PLST4 Potamogeton filiformis POFI2 Stuckenia filiformis ssp. filiformis STFIF Potamogeton pectinatus POPE6 Stuckenia pectinatus STPE12 Potamogeton perfoliatus POPER5 Potamogeton richardsonii PORI2 Potentilla egedii POEG Argentina egedii ssp. egedii AREGE Potentilla palustris POPA14 Comarum palustre COPA28 Pyrola secunda PYSE Orthilia secunda ORSE Rumex fene stratus RUFE3 Rumex aquaticus var. fenestratus RUAQF Sanguisorba stipulata SAST11 Sanguisorba canadensis SAC A 14 Saxifraga punctata SAPU6 Saxifraga nelsoniana ssp. nelsoniana SANEN Sedum rosea SEROI3 Rhodiola integrifolia ssp. integrifolia RHINI Sparganium minimum SPMI Sparganium natans SPNA Stellaria sitchana STSI3 Stellaria borealis ssp. sitchana STBOS Utricularia vulgaris UTVU Utricularia macrorhiza UTMA Graminoids Agrostis alaskana AGAL2 Agrostis exarata AGEX Carex sitchensis CASI3 Carex aquatilis var. dives CAAQD Elymus arenarius ELARM Leymus mollis ssp. mollis LEMOM2 Glyceria pauciflora GLPA6 Torreyochloa pallida var. pauciflora TOPAP3 Juncus alpinus JUAL Juncus alpinoarticulatus ssp. nodulosus JUALN Phleum commutatum PHC09 Phleum alpinum PHAL2 Poa lanata POLA Poa arctica ssp. lanata POARL4 Puccinellia pumila PUPU Puccinellia tenella ssp. alaskana PUTEA Ferns and Fern Allies Dryopteris dilatata DRDI2 Dryopteris expansa DREX2 Lycopodium sabinifolium LYSAS3 Lycopodium sitchense LYSI Lycopodium selago LYSE Huperzia selago var. selago HUSES Thelypteris limbosperma THLI9 Thelypteris quelpaertensis THQU2 Thelypteris phegopteris THPH Phegopteris connectilis PHC024 160 Appendix 2. Comparison among white. Lutz, and Sitka spruce. WHITE SPRUCE LUTZ SPRUCE SITKA SPRUCE TD D- O c too o 8 o x CO > "3 too on O (D •7 = CO O o (/3 ^ cd 3 c/5 ^ G 13 3 c o 53 > c 3 2 O £ J G C/3 , -H O G £ 8 I -o o G O 'Td O 73 O US u < es z c* Ph S O z 73 q CO q 43 73 £ q JE 3 O 5-H q 3 $-H o .£ toO CN 4CJ ’C in CN C4 1 7 1 3 co in 43 £ 3 • i— n 3 ? US u J CQ o z HH 5 C* H C4 3 X> £ 3 W 73 Jj3 3 too 3 •E q E q q 3 J-J co q 43 q S3 ;§ & 3 C4 4^ q <3 43 3 O •33 * c +s 3 § “> O T3 co *3 43 3 73 _ 53 E ^3 O toO -2 co *> s ? 3 44 q £ & W H U < C* < ffi u 43 E 3 3 ^ 43 q £ O 53 c3 > O 163 fetid odor entire plant crushed berries crushed leaves and berries Appendix 5. Comparison between Alaska and early blueberry. £ Pfi5 W CQ P CQ S w a o o 0-1 03 ^ tob » ^ 1 1 S3 3 Jl ^ G M « H- O 03 G G g . t; 03 £ j§ > * <■ £ o • & P X g? » G g x *3 o P G G 43 £ So X c CD 0 o I s G 73 to