[The Rose Family East of the Cascade Mts. of Oregon and Washington]

The Ocean Sprays East of the Cascade Mountains of Oregon and Washington

The Genus Holodiscus

  Ocean Spray: Holodiscus discolor

Ocean Spray: Holodiscus discolor

Ocean Spray, Ocean-spray, Creambush Ocean Spray, Creambush Ocean-spray, Indian Arrowwood: Holodiscus discolor (Synonyms: Holodiscus boursieri, Holodiscus discolor ssp. franciscanus, Holodiscus discolor var. delnortensis, Holodiscus discolor var. franciscanus, Holodiscus discolor var. glabrescens, Holodiscus dumosus ssp. saxicola, Holodiscus dumosus var. australis, Holodiscus dumosus var. glabrescens, Holodiscus glabrescens, Holodiscus microphyllus, Holodiscus microphyllus var. glabrescens, Holodiscus microphyllus var. glabrescens, Holodiscus microphyllus var. sericeus, Holodiscus microphyllus var. typicus, Schizonotus aariaefolius var. discolor, Schizonotus argenteus var. ariaefolius, Schizonotus argenteus var. discolor, Schizonotus discolor, Sericotheca discolor, Sericotheca discolor var. purshianus, Spiraea ariaefolia, Spiraea discolor, Spiraea discolor var. ariaefolia) - Shrub with simple leaves with pinnate venation. Leaf blades uaually over 3 cm long. Margins toothed or shallowly lobed. Flowers small in showy dense sprays or many-branched panicles from 10-17 cm long.

Bush Ocean Spray, Gland Ocean Spray, Rockspirea, Rock Spiraea: Holodiscus microphyllus var. glabrescens (Synonyms: Holodiscus dumosus, Holodiscus dumosus var. glabrescens, Holodiscus glabrescens) - A low, many branched, spreading shrub from 50-200 cm high with reddish twigs. The leaves are in bundles or groups of 6 or 7 at the ends of spur branches, or alternate on new growth. The leaves are usually only 1-2 cm long and are ovate-elliptic to obovate in shape with 6-15 shallow teeth. The inflorescence is 3-10 cm long and is usually a simple panicle or occasionally a raceme. The flowers are white, 5 petaled, and 4-5 mm wide.

Rock Spiraea: Holodiscus microphyllus var. microphyllus (Synonyms: Holodiscus discolor var. dumosus, Holodiscus discolor var. microphyllusHolodiscus dumosus var. dumosus)


Paul Slichter