#cascade aster

Landscape Language

Capitulum (noun) – inflorescence with a tight cluster of unstalked flowers

Plants in the daisy family, Asteraceae, have inflorescences, or flower structures, called the capitulum (plural capitula). The flower is formed of many unstalked blooms surrounded by bracts to give the appearance of a single bloom. The capitulum is also known more simply as the “head”. The Asteraceae family was previously named Compositae, because of their composite flowers. There are many examples of this type of flower found in the park – what are your favorites?

Landscape Language

Phyllary (noun) – bract of a composite flower

Are those wildflowers still blooming in Mount Rainier’s meadows in October?! At first glance the phyllaries of Cascade asters look like the petals of a flower, but these are bracts, or modified leaves. Phyllaries wrap around and protect composite flowers (like daisies and dandelions) before they bloom and then look like tiny green leaves on the underside of each flower. In Cascade asters, the phyllaries dry out and are left behind after the flower goes to seed, adding interesting texture to the fall subalpine meadows of Mount Rainier. What other late season plants are you observing in the park?

National Wildflower Week

Mount Rainier wildflowers come in many colors! What are your favorites? 

Subalpine meadows in the park are transitioning from summer wildflowers to fall colors. Late season wildflowers like Cascade aster (Aster ledophyllus) are still blooming, but huckleberry shrubs are also starting to turn red. From butterflies seeking flower nectar to bears foraging for berries, wildlife in the park is working hard to gather energy before the season changes. What seasonal changes are you observing in the park?  

For updates on what’s blooming where check out https://www.nps.gov/mora/planyourvisit/wildflower-status.htm

For a bee the whole world must look purple! They take no notice of all the activity in the Paradise area, from talking visitors to the sound of construction on the Paradise Inn. These bees are happily buzzing through blooming Cascade asters in the subalpine meadows of Paradise.

There are plenty of wildflowers to see throughout the park. Paradise meadows are hitting their stride, with Cascade asters, lupine, magenta paintbrush, pearly everlasting, false hellebore, and more. What are your favorite wildflowers currently blooming?

For more updates on what’s blooming where check out https://www.nps.gov/mora/planyourvisit/wildflower-status.htm

Cascade asters are still putting on a nice late-season display in the meadows around Paradise. Cascade asters (Eucephallus ledophyllus) have several blue-purple flowers clustered on each stalk. Though similar in appearance, alpine asters (Oresostemma apligenum) have a single flower. Cascade asters are also more common at Paradise, while alpine asters are more common at Sunrise.