Spiraea splendens is a shrub of the rose family (Rosaceae) native to the western mountains of North America, from California to British Columbia, commonly known as dense-flowered spiraea,[citation needed] rose meadowsweet,[4] rosy spiraea,[citation needed] subalpine spiraea,[4] and mountain spiraea.[5][6] It is commonly found at elevations between 2,000 feet (610 m) and 11,000 feet (3,400 m) on inland mountain ranges.[5] The plant is adapted to cold, moist, rocky slopes, subalpine forests and meadows.[5]

Spiraea splendens
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Rosales
Family: Rosaceae
Genus: Spiraea
Species:
S. splendens
Binomial name
Spiraea splendens
Baumann ex K. Koch
Synonyms[1][2][3]
  • Spiraea arbuscula Greene
  • Spiraea betulifolia var. rosea A. Gray
  • Spiraea densiflora Nutt. ex Greenm. nom illeg.

It is a woody shrub rarely reaching a meter in height. It has light green toothed leaves which turn yellow as cold weather approaches. The plant bears fragrant, fuzzy pom-poms of bright rosy pink flowers in the summer. The fruit is a tiny dry pod, no more than one eighth of an inch in length.

Native Americans made a tea-like drink from the leaves.[7]

Mountain spiraea flowers & buds close
Spiraea splendens plants in Ansel Adams Wilderness

References

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  1. ^ USDA Plants Profile for S. splendens var. splendens
  2. ^ USDA Plants Profile for S. splendens var. rosea
  3. ^ The International Plant Names Index
  4. ^ a b Klinkenberg, Brian., ed. (2014). "Spiraea splendens". E-Flora BC: Electronic Atlas of the Plants of British Columbia [eflora.bc.ca]. Lab for Advanced Spatial Analysis, Department of Geography, University of British Columbia, Vancouver. Retrieved 7 September 2014.
  5. ^ a b c Sullivan, Steven. K. (2013). "Spiraea splendens". Wildflower Search. Retrieved 7 September 2014.
  6. ^ Sierra Nevada Wildflowers, Karen Wiese, 2nd ed, 2013, p 89
  7. ^ Reiner, Ralph E. (1969). Introducing the Flowering Beauty of Glacier National Park and the Majestic High Rockies. Glacier Park, Inc. p. 78.

Casebeer, M. (2004). Discover California Shrubs. Sonora, California: Hooker Press. ISBN 0-9665463-1-8.

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