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Species Details
Dryas octopetala L.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium Read more about this collection »
LeavesAlternate, simple, oblong, 0.5-2.5 cm long, margins round-toothed and rolled to the underside, dark olive green and wrinkled above, grey and hairy below, leathery
FlowersInflorescence solitary, 5-20 cm tall stalks, woolly; sepals 8-10, distinct, 4-8 mm long, oblong-lance-shaped, white-woolly, with black hairs, glandular; petals 8-10, distinct, 8-17 mm long, oblong to elliptic, creamy-white; stamens numerous, filaments smooth; pistils numerous, styles twisted together when immature and in damp weather, ovaries superior
Fruits and SeedsAchene about 3 mm long, long feathery styles; seed 2.5-4 mm long
Scientific Name
Dryas octopetala L.
Common Name
white dryad, white mountain avens
General Description
Perennial subshrub, woody, evergreen, low, 3- 25 cm tall, mat-like
Leaves
Alternate, simple, oblong, 0.5-2.5 cm long, margins round-toothed and rolled to the underside, dark olive green and wrinkled above, grey and hairy below, leathery
Flowers
Inflorescence solitary, 5-20 cm tall stalks, woolly; sepals 8-10, distinct, 4-8 mm long, oblong-lance-shaped, white-woolly, with black hairs, glandular; petals 8-10, distinct, 8-17 mm long, oblong to elliptic,…
Inflorescence solitary, 5-20 cm tall stalks, woolly; sepals 8-10, distinct, 4-8 mm long, oblong-lance-shaped, white-woolly, with black hairs, glandular; petals 8-10, distinct, 8-17 mm long, oblong to elliptic, creamy-white; stamens numerous, filaments smooth; pistils numerous, styles twisted together when immature and in damp weather, ovaries superior
Fruits and Seeds
Achene about 3 mm long, long feathery styles; seed 2.5-4 mm long
Phenology
Flowers from May to August
Notes
Similar species:
Dryas integrifolia
Dryas integrifolia is similar to Dryas octopetala, but can be distinguished by its smooth leaf margin.
Dryas drummondii
Dryas drummondii is similar to Dryas octopetala, but can be…
Similar species:
Dryas integrifolia
Dryas integrifolia is similar to Dryas octopetala, but can be distinguished by its smooth leaf margin.
Dryas drummondii
Dryas drummondii is similar to Dryas octopetala, but can be distinguished by its yellow petals and broader leaves.
Ethno-botanical uses:
The flowers and achene plumes are used to create a green dye.
The name octopetala means 8-petalled.
Have been reported to be harvested by pikas in the Southern Ogilvie Mountains.
Range/Distribution
Alberta: The Rocky Mountains
CAN (BC, NT, YT); USA (CO, ID, MT, OR, UT, WA, WY)
Citation
Page Citation for Dryas octopetala L.
Page Citation
"Species Details - Dryas octopetala L., University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium." University of Alberta Museums Search Site, https://search.museums.ualberta.ca/g/1-3188/12-3151. Accessed 09 Apr. 2025.
Specimen Information
There are 11 specimens of this Species.
103452 - Dryas octopetala L.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namewhite dryad, white mountain avens
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Willmore Wilderness Park, Azure Lake
Date Collected1999-08-06
122045 - Dryas octopetala L.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namewhite dryad, white mountain avens
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Mount Stelfox
Date Collected2009-07-21
124061 - Dryas octopetala L.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namewhite dryad, white mountain avens
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Kakwa Wildland Provincial Park, Sulfur Ridge
Date Collected2006-07-15
130121 - Dryas octopetala L.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namewhite dryad, white mountain avens
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Willmore Wilderness Park, Rocky Pass
Date Collected2000-08-02
130122 - Dryas octopetala L.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namewhite dryad, white mountain avens
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Plateau Mountain Ecological Reserve, Plateau Mountain
Date Collected1979-08-20
130123 - Dryas octopetala L.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namewhite dryad, white mountain avens
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Kootenay Plains Ecological Reserve
Date Collected1981-06-21
128982 - Dryas octopetala L.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namewhite dryad, white mountain avens
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, British Columbia, Elkford
Date Collected1982-09-09
136822 - Dryas octopetala L.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namewhite dryad, white mountain avens
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Yukon, Gladstone Creek
Date Collected2012-06-19
142537 - Dryas octopetala L.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namewhite dryad, white mountain avens
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Bovin Lake
Date Collected2018-06-27
142538 - Dryas octopetala L.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namewhite dryad, white mountain avens
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Castle Wildland Provincial Park, Prairie Bluff
Date Collected2018-06-13
144625 - Dryas octopetala L.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namewhite dryad, white mountain avens
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Cardinal Pass
Date Collected1992-08-11