Common Name:
Mountain avens
Scientific Name:
Dryas integrifolia/octopetala
Unique Qualities:
Also known as arctic and alpine dryads, these plants are ground hugging, sun-loving semi-shrubs. They are anywhere from 1 - 3.5 cm long and have small leathery leaves and a yellow flower supported on a short stem.
Can be Seen:
The mountain avens can be seen across northern Canada (Yukon, the Northwest Territories, and Nunavut), as north as the arctic circle, and as south as the rocky mountains in Alberta. Like the name implies, the mountain avens can mostly be seen in mountains.
Likes to Hang Out:
Mountain avens like to hang out in rocky barren areas, alpine meadows, and ridges. They can survive most moist conditions because they like to hang out in areas of early snow melt.
Benefits of the Plant:
Inuits in the Northwest Territories discovered that twisting the mountain avens seed head marked the best time to move inland to hunt caribou. Aboriginals also used the flowers and seed heads to make a bright green dye.
Status:
These beautiful flowers are not at risk and they continue to grow healthily in the northern regions and mountainous regions.
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