Rosaceae

Petrophyton hendersonii

Olympic Rockmat

Tight leafy mat with woody base. Rosettes crowded with evergreen leaves, reddish when stressed. Leaves oblong, widest at tip end, to 3/4 in. long, sparsely hairy. Flower stalk to 3 in. bearing dense spike of tiny white flowers with many stamens. As spike elongates it often bends with upper half turned out or downward. Grows in rock crevices in alpine. In Greek, petro means "rock" and phyton means "plant." This refers to the habit the plants in this genus have of growing in rock crevices. Rare and known only from Olympic Mountains in Washington.

• Rarity: Endemic
• Flowering Time: Mid Summer
• Life Cycle: Perennial
• Height: 3--6 inches
• Habitat: Alpine
• Found In: Olympic Np
• Native: Yes