The writer collected on the mountain in 1888 and again in 1889 and 1895. Since then the following botanists have made collections on Mount Rainier: Rev. E. C. Smith, in 1889 and 1890; Dr. E. L. Greene, in 1889; Mr. J. B. Flett in 1895, 1896 and since; Mr. M. W. Gorman in 1897; and Mr. O. D. Allen from 1895 to about 1905.
Most of the work done thus far has been in Paradise Park and its immediate vicinity. Next to this, the flora of Spray Park is best known. The east slopes of the peak have been partially explored, but to the knowledge of the writer no botanist has ever yet collected on the west slopes.
The list of plants here given numbers 315 species. In preparing it, Longmire Springs, alt.i.tude 2,850 feet, has been selected as the lowermost limit on the south side of the mountain, and Crater Lake, alt.i.tude about 3,500 feet, as the limit on the north side. It is quite certain that a considerable number of lowland plants will have to be added to the list here given, and it is possible that a few have been included that will have to be dropped, as the exact place of collection of some species is not clearly indicated on the labels of the specimens. Unless otherwise stated, the notes are based on the writer"s observations and specimens, and refer mainly to the Paradise Park region.
There yet remains much to be done in the study of the Mount Rainier flora. A particularly interesting phase of it lies in the matter of alt.i.tudinal distribution of the various species.
No attempt is here made to list the plants lower than the ferns. The writer has made considerable collections of the fungi, liverworts and mosses; and Mr. O. D. Allen has also collected the mosses. These plants should receive a larger amount of attention from botanists who visit the mountain in the future.
The following plants were first described from specimens obtained on Mount Rainier:
=Petasites nivalis= Greene.
=Luina piperi= Robinson.
=Prenanthes stricta= Greene.
=Oreostemma alpigena= (Torrey & Gray) Greene.
=Aster amplifolius= Greene.
=Arnica aspera= Greene.
=Castilleja rupicola= Piper.
=Mimulus caespitosus= Greene.
=Veronica allenii= Greenman.
=Pedicularis ornithorhyncha= Bentham.
=Pedicularis contorta= Bentham.
=Pentstemon tolmiei= Hooker.
=Pentstemon newberryi rupicola= Piper.
=Gentiana calycosa= Grisebach.
=Gentiana calycosa stricta= Grisebach.
=Hydrophyllum congestum= Wiegand.
=Polemonium elegans= Greene.
=Polemonium bicolor= Greenman.
=Dodecatheon crenatum= Greene.
=Vaccinium deliciosum= Piper.
=Ligustic.u.m purpureum= Coulter & Rose.
=Hesperogenia stricklandi= Coulter & Rose.
=Lupinus volcanicus= Greene.
=Stellaria washingtoniana= Robinson.
=Potentilla flabellifolia= Hooker.
=Luzula arcuata major= Hooker.
=Sitanion rigidum= J. G. Smith.
=Sitanion rubescens= Piper.
=Poa saxatilis= Scribner & Williams.
The type specimens of _Saxifraga tolmiei_ were collected by Tolmie on the "N. W. Coast." It is altogether probable that he got them on Mount Rainier, where the plant is so abundant.
LIST OF SPECIES
=COMPOSITAE.= (Aster Family.)
=Scorzonella borealis= (Bongard) Greene.
A plant much resembling a dandelion, occurring on the north side of the mountain.
=Troximon alpestre= Gray.
A plant much resembling the dandelion, frequent on the gra.s.sy slopes at 5,500 feet alt.i.tude.
=Troximon aurantiac.u.m= Hooker.
This species has entire mostly basal leaves, and bears a single head of orange or purple flowers. Common at 5,000 to 6,000 feet.
=Troximon glauc.u.m asperum= (Rydberg) Piper. (_Agoseris leontodon asperum_ Rydberg.)
A species with large lemon-yellow flowers and h.o.a.ry p.u.b.escent leaves.
It occurs in the pumice and lava at 7,500 feet alt.i.tude and is quite abundant near the base of Little Tahoma.
=Hieracium albiflorum= Hooker.
A tall plant with hairy entire leaves and a rather ample corymb of white flowers. Essentially a lowland plant, but occurring up to 5,500 feet alt.i.tude, especially in burnt ground.
=Hieracium gracile= Hooker.
A small hawkweed with yellow flowers in black hairy involucres. A common plant at 5,500 to 6,500 feet alt.i.tude.
=Cirsium edule= Nuttall.
Plentiful on the ridges of Moraine Park at the limit of trees. Also reported by Gorman as occurring in open woods near the timber line in Cowlitz canyon. This thistle is abundant at the sea level, and the roots were formerly a favorite food of the Indians.
=Saussurea americana= D. C. Eaton.
A peculiar plant with leafy stems, two to four feet high, bearing a dense cl.u.s.ter of elongate rayless heads of purple flowers. Found only on the high ridge north of the foot of Cowlitz Glacier.
=Senecio ochraceus= Piper.
Goat Mountains, Allen, No. 230.
=Senecio triangularis= Hooker.
A tall species with triangular coa.r.s.ely dentate leaves and numerous rather small heads of yellow flowers. Abundant in the marsh at Longmire Springs and in wet places on the mountain slopes up to 6,000 feet alt.i.tude.
=Senecio ductoris= Piper.
A low species with thickish crenate leaves and deep yellow heads.
Found only on the moraine on the south side of Cowlitz Glacier.
=Senecio flettii= Wiegand.
Found near Cowlitz Chimneys by Miss Winona Bailey, in 1915; previously known only from the Olympic Mountains.
=Arnica latifolia= Bongard.