XRhodiola integrifolia - King's CrownX
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King's Crown -or- Roseroot -or- Ledge Stonecrop -or- Western Roseroot (Rhodiola integrifolia), family Crassulaceae (Stonecrop)
Called Tolmachevia integrifolium by Weber in Colorado Flora Eastern Slope, after the Russian botanist Aleksandr Tolmachev. We previously published this as the less commonly used Sedum integrifolium. This is one stunning plant. The flowers just glow and the foliage in the fall becomes another show entirely. WIKIPEDIA has this; 'Sedum is the large stonecrop genus of the Crassulaceae, representing about 400 species of leaf succulents, found throughout the northern hemisphere, varying from annual groundcovers to shrubs. The plants have water-storing leaves and a typical form of blossom with five petals, seldom four or six. There are typically twice as many stamens as petals.' End quote.
USES:
Natives of the state of Alaska to this day chew the roots, spitting out the juice, to ease the discomfort of mouth sores, sore throats, and to bathe weary eyes. Parts of the plants are edible but can cause nausea if overeaten.
There are three widely accepted subpsecies of integrifolia: integrifolia, leedyi, and neomexicana. Any of our specimens could be subsp. intergrifolia (found in Colorado) but we lack the technical training to make that determination. That said, the marvelous website Native American Ethnobotany shows the following uses of subsp. intergrifolia: Eskimo, Alaska - Roots chewed and the juice spat out for sores in the mouth. Red plant tops used to make a tea like beverage. Plant eaten fresh, soured or in oil. Used (generally) for food.
The genus Rhodiola consists of three species: integrifolia, rhodantha, and rosea. See rhodantha here.
Flower -
Plant location: Numerous sightings: plant view Mt Evans June 23, 2010. Flower and foliage found hiking Silver Dollar Lake (Colorado). The habitat is high altitude; subalpine and alpine zones. The plants are water lovers but can be found in drier areas as well.Plant -
Bloom period: June to August.Foliage -
Silver Dollar Lake hike - Colorado - August 4, 2014
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Boreas Pass - Black Powder Pass trail - Colorado - August 2, 2015
Continued...in our early days of plant identification we found a specimen of Queen's Crown (on Mt. Evans) with dark, solidly colored, corollas and mistook it for King's Crown. Queen's foliage (left) grows closer together on the stem and is more lance-shaped and narrow. King's Crown foliage (right) grows much further apart on the stem and is toothed. The foliage of both species is glabrous (smooth, hairless), as opposed to pubescent (bearing any kind of hairs).
**The Black Powder Pass trail was in the process of creation even as we did the hike and offered an outstanding showing of wildflowers as well as mountain views. The distance of the hike is only 3.4 miles round trip with a mere 677 feet of gain. Highly recommended hike. If breathing is an issue at the altitude, we would suggest going slow, but still try. Very rewarding hike.** -
Rollins-Corona Pass - Colorado - July 26, 2015
King's Crown shoulder to shoulder with Silky Phacelia (Phacelia sericea). -
Mt. Evans - Colorado - July 20, 2008
One of our earliest sightings of King's Crown. -
Silver Dollar Lake hike - Colorado - August 4, 2014
Per the Colorado State University Extension website: Leaves - simple (not divided into similar parts), alternate (one leaf per node - joint where the leaf joins the stem), 1" long, fleshy, bluish green, red in fall, teeth on tip (shown here, becoming less distinct and further apart on the leaf body). -
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Boreas Pass - Black Powder Pass trail - Colorado - August 2, 2015
Fun find - King's Crown shoulder to shoulder, this time, with Queen's Crown (Rhodiola rhodantha).
**The Black Powder Pass trail was in the process of creation even as we did the hike and offered an outstanding showing of wildflowers as well as mountain views. Since our photo of King's and Queen's crown is a little soft we will have to suffer and return in 2016 for another try.** -
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Boreas Pass - Black Powder Pass trail - Colorado - August 2, 2015
A different view of King's and Queen's Crown growing in close proximity - neighbors on high. Elevation at this point was right around 12,000'. Note the distinct difference in the foliage of the two species. In our early days of plant identification we found a specimen of Queen's Crown (on Mt. Evans) with dark, solidly colored, corollas and mistook it for King's Crown. Oops. See a closer view of the foliages in the next frame, top right.
**The Black Powder Pass trail was in the process of creation even as we did the hike and offered an outstanding showing of wildflowers as well as mountain views. The distance of the hike is only 3.4 miles round trip with a mere 677 feet of gain. Highly recommended hike. If breathing is an issue at the altitude, we would suggest going slow, but still try. Very rewarding hike.** -