Alpine Tundra plant species

Pinus aristata

Pinaceae

Bristlecone pine

Only tree in alpine tundra

low, twisted gnarled

fascicles in groups of 5

female cones have bristles on each scale

short growing season

Lonicera involucrata

Caprifoliaceae

Four-Line Honeysuckle or Twinberry Honeysuckle

red colored bracts, yellow flowers, opposite leaves, prominent venation, low growing

Juniperus communis

Cupressaceae

Common Juniper

low-growing, needle-like leaves; retains juvenile morphology; fleshy cones, not berries

Ribes montigenium

Grossulariaceae

Western Prickly Gooseberry

Palmate venation, lobed and divided leaves, spines on branches and berries

Psedocymopterus Montanus

Apiaceae

Alpine Spring Parsley

Carrot family, compound umbel, flower color dependent on elevation

Oreochysum paryi

Asteraceae

Parry’s Goldenweed

Disk and long ray flowers, leafy phyllaries, wide leaves

Packera Fransiscana

Asteraceae

San Francisco Peaks Groundsel

Picket-fence bracts that are purplish-green; yellow flowers

Packera wernerfolia

Asteraceae

Rocky Alpine Groundsel

Shorter disk, longer ray flowers, ray flowers more spread out, pink-tipped phyllaries, higher inflorescence

Cerastium beeringianum

Caryophyllaceae

Bearing Sea Mouse-ear Chickweed

Carnation family, opposite leaves, swollen nodes, flowers have 5 petals with a deep notch, low-growing perennial

Eremongone fendleri

Caryophyllaceae

Fendler’s Matted Sandwort

5 petals, no notch,

Selene acaulis

Caryophyllaceae

Cushion pink

5 petals, fused corolla, stem covered by rocks, dense and matt-like, petals have tiny notches, carnation family

Rhodiola rhodantha

Crassulaceae

Queen’s crown

succulent, rose-colored petals

Carex bella

Cyperaceae

Southwestern showy sedge

bracts below each flower. lighter than other sedges, pendulous seed heads

Carex albonigra

Cyperaceae

Black and White sedge

errect seed heads, darker bracts, purplish

Chamaenerion angustifolium

Onagraceae

Narrow-leaf Fireweed

Floral parts in 4s, 8 stamens, tall growing habit, bright purple flowers

Pedicularis parryi

Orobanchaceae

Parry’s Lousewort

Same family as paintbrushes, possibly parasitic; low coloration-missing chloroplast gene; white flowers, fern-like leaves

Penstamon whippleaus

Plantaginaceae

Dark Beardtongue

bilabiate, purple, modified for pollinators, wide leaves

Primula parryi

Primulaceae

Brook Primrose

rosette of leaves, long and wide leaves, 5 pink petals

Fagaria Viginiana

Rosaceae

Virginia Strawberry

Rose family, low-growing, lots of stamens, strawberries have stolons, palmately compound leaves

Geum rossii

Rosaceae

Ross’ Avens

Rose family, mats, highly dissected leaves, dry fruit

Potentilla sibbaldi

Rosaceae

Creeping Sibbaldia

Palmate leaves, rose family, small yellow petals

Rubus idaeus

Rosaceae

American Red Raspberry

Rose family, white leaf underside, prickles on stem