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Cox, Fran

Cassiope mertensiana

Cassiope mertensiana (Bong.) G. Don

Western Moss Heather, Western Moss-heather

Ericaceae (Heath Family)

Synonym(s):

USDA Symbol: CAME7

USDA Native Status: L48 (N), AK (N), CAN (N)

A low, matted, evergreen shrub with tough branches up to 12 in. tall. Small white bell-like flowers hang from the tips of slender stalks that grow from the axils near the ends of the branches on this matted plant. One to few bell-shaped flowers are borne near the branch tips. Because the flowers are pendent, the reddish sepals are visible.

The somewhat star-like white flowers may have inspired the genus name of this plant, for in Greek mythology Cassiopeia was set among the stars as a constellation. Firemoss Cassiope (C. tetragona), near the Canadian border, has a prominent groove on the lower side of each leaf. Starry Cassiope (C. stellariana), which grows in bogs from Mount Rainier northward, has alternate, spreading leaves.

From the Image Gallery

2 photo(s) available in the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Subshrub , Shrub
Leaf Retention: Evergreen
Leaf Complexity: Simple
Fruit Type: Capsule
Size Notes: Up to about 1 foot tall.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: White
Bloom Time: Jul , Aug

Distribution

USA: AK , CA , ID , MT , OR , WA
Canada: AB , BC , YT
Native Distribution: AK to CA, e. to the Canadian Rockies & MT
Native Habitat: Rocky Mt. slopes from timberline upward

Growing Conditions

Light Requirement: Sun
Soil Description: Cool, damp, gritty soil.

Butterflies and Moths of North America (BAMONA)

Cassiope Blue
(Plebejus cassiope)

Larval Host

Learn more at BAMONA

National Wetland Indicator Status

Region:	AGCP	AK	AW	CB	EMP	GP	HI	MW	NCNE	WMVE
Status:		UPL	FACU			FACU				FACU

This information is derived from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers National Wetland Plant List, Version 3.1 (Lichvar, R.W. 2013. The National Wetland Plant List: 2013 wetland ratings. Phytoneuron 2013-49: 1-241). Click here for map of regions.

Bibliography

Bibref 1186 - Field Guide to Moths of Eastern North America (2005) Covell, C.V., Jr.
Bibref 1185 - Field Guide to Western Butterflies (Peterson Field Guides) (1999) Opler, P.A. and A.B. Wright

Search More Titles in Bibliography

Additional resources

USDA: Find Cassiope mertensiana in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Cassiope mertensiana in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Cassiope mertensiana

Metadata

Record Modified: 2007-08-19
Research By: TWC Staff

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