Cassiope mertensiana var. mertensiana
Western Moss Heather

Family: Ericaceae (Heath family)

Photo taken near Grace Lakes, wet hillside

Flowers:

generally 5 numerous; solitary in upper leaf axils; ovary superior; corolla white; 10 stamens

Leaves:

opposite, evergreen, appressed, sessile; 2-5 mm; glabrous leaves keeled but not grooved on the back

Plant:

perennial

Habitat:

high mountains

Distribution of species:

Alaska to South Oregon to the Canadian Rocky Mountians

Distribution of genus:

more or less 14 species: south and east Asia, North America