Synonyms: Dryas octopetala, Dryas octopetala ssp. hookeriana, Dryas octopetala var. angustifolia, Dryas octopetala var. hookeriana
White
mountain-avens seen at right from Arsenic Mt. on the eastern edge of the Bob Marshall Wilderness
in the Montana Rockies.......July 28, 1999. Note the attractive evergreen leaves.
White mountain-avens is an attractive, low, evergreen perennial semi-shrub. Its woody stems trail along the ground and freely root at the nodes. It frequently forms mats of attractive foliage which are suitable for use in the home rock garden. As with other plants of this family, the leaves alternate on the stems and they are also found in clusters at the base of the flower stalks. The blades are thick and leather, from 5-25 mm long, and oblong to oval in shape. The base of the blade is either rounded or heart-shaped, while the upper surface is dark green and wrinkled above while the lower surface is densely covered with white hairs. The edges of the blades are round-toothed and rolled under.
The attractive flowers are white, saucer-shaped, and 2-3 cm across. They are solitary atop leafless stems from 5-20 cm long. 8-10 egg-shaped petals surround the numerous yellow stamens. The 8 sepals are lance-shaped. The fruits are 3 mm long achenes which are tipped with 2-3 cm long white or yellow, feathery bristles (styles) which are twisted together when young (See Photo below.), and spreading to form a fluffy head when mature.
White mountain-avens is found on open, rocky or gravelly sites in subalpine and alpine habitats.
White mountain-avens is found from Alaska southward in montane areas to the northern Cascade Mts and eastward into the Wallowa Mts. of northeastern Oregon, the Rocky Mts. from Albert south into Montana, Idaho, and Colorado, and further east along the Arctic shores to Labrador. It is also found in Asia.
