[Ocean Sprays: The Genus Holodiscus East
of the Cascades of Oregon and Washington]
Bush Ocean Spray, Gland Ocean Spray, Rockspiraea, Rock Spiraea
Holodiscus microphyllus var. glabrescens
Synonyms: Holodiscus dumosus, Holodiscus dumosus var. glabrescens, Holodiscus glabrescens
Rockspiraea as seen on gravelly slopes along the Canyon Mt. Trail #218, Strawberry Mountain Wilderness.........August 1, 2011.
Characteristics:
Gland ocean spray is a low, much-branched shrub from 0.5-2 meters
tall. The twigs are often reddish, while the bark of older branches may be a
deep grayish-red. The greenish, glabrous to hairy leaves are often clustered
(6-7) at the ends of short spur branches, or found alternating on newer, long
branches. The leaf blades may be up to 2 cm in length and may have up to 15
shallow teeth.
The small white flowers (5 petals) are up to 5 mm wide, and found
in a few to several branched panicle. The latter may sometimes be replaced by
a racemose inflorescence. Each of the petals is elliptic-oval in shape and about
2 mm long. The numerous stamens are about equal in length to the petals.
Lower (left) and upper (right) surfaces of gland
ocean spray from Lambertson Butte, Mt. Hood Wilderness.........August 14, 1998.
Habitat:
Gland ocean spray is found from desert valleys and hillsides to montane slopes.
Range:
Gland ocean spray is found
from south-central Oregon to California and eastward through central Idaho to
northwest Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, Arizona, and Nevada.
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Rockspiraea beginning to bloom on rock outcrops above 8600' along the North Loop Road about one-half mile downhill from the Kiger Gorge Overlook, Steens Mountain, Harney County, Oregon........August 31, 2011.
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Rockspiraea in bloom on the summit ridge of Pine Mountain, Deschutes National Forest.........July 12, 2017.
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Rockspiraea blooming (left) on serpentine slopes along the Canyon Mountain Trail #218, Strawberry Mountain Wilderness.........August 19, 2011 The photo at right shows rockspiraea blooming on rock outcrops along the Gray Butte Trail #852 , Crooked River National Grassland.........June 24, 2017.
Rockspiraea in bloom along Road 4011-015 below the summit of Crane Mountain, Fremont-Winema National Forest.......August 1, 2020.
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Pubescent leaves of rockspiraea as seen (left) on gravelly slopes along the Canyon Mt. Trail #218, Strawberry Mountain Wilderness..........August 1, 2011. The photo at right as seen along the Gray Butte Trail #852, Crooked River National Grasslands.........May 20, 2017.
Paul Slichter