13) Potentilla, Dryas, Geum and other Rosaceae

Dryas drummondii

Submitted by cohan on Tue, 11/13/2012 - 12:02

The most common Dryas in Alberta, and very widespread, from the foothills (I think it follows some river valleys even farther down out of the actual hills) to alpine areas (Lori can better comment on its presence in real alpine places, though I know it's common in places such as at the foot of the Athabasca Glacier, a site with colonising and alpine flora, though technically it's below the treeline).

Potentilla robbinsiana

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 12/29/2011 - 02:44

Mr. David Sellars,

Your post on Saxifraga florulenta made me think of another endangered alpine that was recently delisted. Potentilla robbinsiana is a Pleistocene relic only found in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. The largest population is in a small area with unusual stone. This stone must satisfy some specific nutrient requirement (like calcium) which cannot be obtained from the granite that predominates this mountain range.

Dryas octopetala

Submitted by Lori S. on Sat, 02/20/2010 - 00:44

Dryas octopetala is a very common and beautiful plant of alpine slopes in this area, and in addition, it has the delightful habit of repeated bloom through the season.
It can also be grown fairly easily in the garden here (last photo)... why I bother with my relatively feeble effort, though, when I see them in natural splendour throughout our mountain hikes, I don't know! ??? Anyway, it is another point in its favour, as if it needed one!