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Mountain bog gentian (Gentiana calycosa) blooms late in the season, and is often seen as a herald of autumn. Its deep blue-purple blooms coil into tight buds at night and then unfurl during the day. One theory is that the blooms close to protect against frost on cool fall nights. Mountain bog gentians can be found throughout the park in wet subalpine meadows.
Many wildflower plants are making the shift from blooms to seedheads or berries in the subalpine meadows, but some late-season wildflowers can still be found. Mountain bog gentian (Gentiana calycosa) is having a big year in subalpine meadows around Paradise as well as at Mowich Lake. Other common late-season wildflowers include pearly everlasting and fireweed.
Remember to please stay on trail! It doesn’t take many steps to trample the wildflowers you are coming to see. Many trails offer great opportunities for that perfect mountain + wildflower photo. Where are you finding wildflowers?
“Nyctinasty” doesn’t sound like something pleasant, but it comes from the Greek word for “night” and refers to the movement of plants in response to darkness. Mountain Bog Gentian (Gentiana calycosa) exhibits nyctinastic behavior: its blooms spiral closed at night, then reopen during the day. Mountain Bog Gentian blooms late in the season when nights are growing colder. One theory for nyctinasty is that it helps protect the flower from frost. However, it could also shield pollen from becoming wet and heavy with dew, since dry pollen is more easily transferred by insects. Have you observed some Mountain Bog Gentian in Mount Rainier’s subalpine meadows?
_________ NPS Photos of Mountain Bog Gentian with blooms closed in the early morning, and open later in the day. Description: (top) A patch of wildflowers with closed purple-blue blooms. (bottom) A patch of wildflowers with open purple-blue blooms. ~kl
Weekly Wildflower - May 7, 2015 Tall Bluebells (Mertensia paniculata) is the only
bluebell found in Mount Rainier National Park, though three other
bluebell species can be found in Washington. As its name suggests, Tall
Bluebells is the largest of the four species, growing to reach 2-5 feet
tall (0.6-1.5 m). Though it is common throughout the park, Tall
Bluebells are particularly abundant along Westside Road.
Wildflower Update Mountain Bog Gentians are blooming throughout the park. Their deep blue-purple color is a last farewell to summer, as they are one of the final flower species to bloom every year. This particular patch of gentian is blooming even as its leaves begin to turn with autumn colors. NPS Photo taken along the High Lakes Trail, September 12, 2014.
Another late-bloomer, northern microseris, is bringing bright yellow color to lower elevation areas, particularly around Longmire. Northern microseris is a popular flower with Pine White Butterflies, which are also starting to appear. NPS Photo taken in Longmire, September 10, 2014.
Some plants and animals at Mount Rainier National Park are just meant for mountains. As many of our summer wildflowers go to seed the species that are left blooming in the fall are able to stick around because they are adapted to cooler weather. Mountain bog gentian avoids frost by closing its petals at night and reopening each morning.
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NPS Photo of mountain bog gentian closed
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NPS Photo of mountain bog gentian open
This ability to bloom every day is called nyctinasty and it allows some flowers stay warm at night and keep blooming into the early fall. These plants were made for mountains. ~mmm
Weekly Wildflower: August 16, 2015
IHuckleberry and corn lily leaves are already starting to turn to fall
colors, and most wildflower species have gone to seed. One common shrub
called Oceanspray (Holodiscus discolor) has dense,
white plumes of flowers that fade to reddish-brown in fall and remain on
the plant well into winter. Oceanspray is sometimes called “ironwood”
due to its hard, strong wood. Before the use of nails, Oceanspray pegs
were used in construction, while native groups used the wood for digging
sticks, spear shafts, bows, and arrows. The brownish fruits were also
used in medicine.
Weekly Wildflower: May 14, 2015
Despite the bearing the name “Big-leaved” Sandwort (Moehringia
macrophylla), this plant is actually quite small. Its slender leaves are
barely 2 inches (6 cm) long, while its flower petals are no more a
quarter inch (approx. 6mm) long. Nonetheless, Big-leaved Sandwort leaves
are much larger than other sandwort species and so earned its name. Look for a dusting of these tiny white flowers blooming in shady forested areas in the park.
Weekly Wildflower: May 28, 2015
Reports say that wildflower conditions along Upper Kautz trail are
already looking great with numerous flowers starting to bloom. However,
this lovely patch of Bunchberry/Dwarf Dogwood (Cornus canadensis)
was photographed near the start of the trail by Kautz bridge. The
distinctive four white “petals” of Bunchberry are actually bracts, or
modified leaves, that protect the flower. The actual flowers are very
small and greenish-white.
An extremely low snow year and generally mild winter is
bringing the wildflowers out much earlier than usual. Most lower
elevation areas are melted out. A few spring storms have brought snow,
but it has melted quickly and has not affected the early start to the
wildflower season.
Yellow violets in particular are out in force this week. The violet featured in this week’s photo is Roundleaf Violet (Viola orbiculata), which blooms earlier than Evergreen violet (V. sempervirens) and Stream Violet (V. glabella),
though all of them are near-identical in appearance. They are so
similar in appearance that in wildflower reports we simply list them as
“yellow violets”.
Mount Rainier National Park Archives Photos of the Sunrise South Blockhouse (part of the stockade group) in 1930.
May is National Historic Preservation Month, when we celebrate the places that preserve a piece of our shared history. Mount Rainier National Park was designated a National Historic Landmark District in 1997 as no other park has preserved as much of an intact example of early park planning as Mount Rainier. Beginning in the late 1920s, the master plan for Mount Rainier was the first and most complete national park master plan to be developed and implemented in the National Park Service. The park was treated as a synthetic whole – not a group of fragmented locations – and this consistent design can still be seen in the buildings, roads, bridges, trails, and developed areas.
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Mount Rainier National Park Archives Photo of the Paradise Inn in 1940-41.
Mount Rainier National Park is also home to five buildings that are independently designated National Historic Landmarks: the Longmire Administration Building, Longmire Community Building, Longmire Service Station, Paradise Inn, and Yakima Park Stockade Group (home to the Sunrise Visitor Center). Each of these represent unique examples of early park architecture. Have you visited all five buildings?
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Mount Rainier National Park Archives Photos: Longmire Community Building circa 1927 (left) and Longmire Service Station in 1929 (right).
