By Liz Olson, Editorial Assistant

On my climb up to Mt. Lafayette’s peak in New Hampshire this month I saw several clusters of Mountain Avens. Mountain Avens are often mistaken for buttercups, but they are actually part of the rose family. They are also considered threatened in New Hampshire and endangered globally.

I picked up an Alpine Flower Guide and Flower Data Sheet at the Greenleaf Hut on Mt. Lafayette before I started my hike across the Franconia ridge. The flower guide and data sheet were supplied by a program called Mountain Watch, which is sponsored by the Appalachian Mountain Club. Mountain Watch collaborates with hikers to collect plant data that helps measure the ecological health of the mountains. Hikers can  then mail them the data or record it on the Mountain Watch website. 

Here is some information on Mountain Avens from Wildflowers of the White Mountains.

Mountain Avens (Geum peckii) have one or more yellow flowers, each with five notched petals. Lower leaves are large, alternate, and pinnately compound while upper leaves are smaller and unevenly toothed. In the fall, this plant is noted for its crimson-red foliage. This native flower is seen in the alpine regions of the White Mountains. Species name was given in memory of the early botanist William Peck.

For more information on Mountain Avens click here.

Monday, August 13, 2007 3:39:27 PM (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)    Comments [0]